Sisters, Brothers, Friends,
This moment is crucial in our struggle. Canada Post, supported by the Federal Government, is trying to weaken our Union and diminish our bargaining power. On June 12, the Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, took the unprecedented step of forcing us to vote on Canada Post’s so-called “best and final” offers. This action bypasses the bargaining demands that you put forward and ratified, disregards your representation by the negotiation committees, and undermines the very foundation of free and fair collective bargaining.
I am so happy to tell you my news: When our son Basti was 3 years and 10 months old, he received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Global Developmental Delay (GDD). The beginning years presented major obstacles.
We wanted to hear from members about their health benefits and other supports for families with children with disabilities. We wanted to know if the health benefits and other supports were in fact working for members and their families.
I am so happy to tell you my news: As some of you know, Jordan my son has cerebral palsy and is visually impaired. When Jordan was 13 years old, he had to have 8 surgeries in 1 day. Rehab was 85 days in Bloorview, Toronto. I took a leave without pay for 3 months to drive back and forth to be with Jordan while he recuperates, Brian my husband would come on weekends.
Welcome to the 2023 edition of the Rose magazine! Every year CUPW proudly releases a new Rose to coincide with International Women’s Day. CUPW is made up of strong, passionate, and dedicated women, who, every day, work to improve the lives of CUPW members either on the workfoor, through Union organizing, educationals, and through various positions locally, regionally and nationally. The Rose is a vehicle not only to honour many of these women, but also to talk about the issues that affect us at work and in life.
We are very thankful to the Special Needs Project. It has been a great support for my daughter’s growth. She was three years old when she was diagnosed with severe autism spectrum disorder and a severe speech and communication disability. This diagnosis came with so many things which we never knew or noticed before.
We have heard many stories about the challenges members face in dealing with anxiety and depression. The challenges could be in supporting anxiety related to their own needs or those close to them, or, the anxiety their child faces related to their diagnosis.
This newsletter is focused on mental health and mental illness. Everyone struggles with their mental health at some point in time. I know I have. The resources listed here only touch the surface of the supports available. I hope there is something here that is helpful for you.
Support Postal Banking - Download and Sign the Petition
Canada needs a postal bank. Thousands of rural towns and villages in our country do not have a bank, but many of them have a post office that could provide financial services. As well, nearly two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to payday lenders. A postal bank could be that alternative. Download and sign the petition urging the Government of Canada to instruct Canada Post to add postal banking, with a mandate for financial inclusion.
Unfortunately, our scheduled meetings for Friday, August 15th and Monday, August 18th, have been postponed. The Federal mediators will not be able to assist CUPW and CPC due to their current involvement in the Air Canada negotiations.
This September, CUPW joins its Malayali brothers and sisters with joy and pride to observe Onam celebrations in Canada. Onam is one of the most significant regional festivals celebrated in Kerala, the southernmost state of India.
After pressing the Employer to come back to the bargaining table early last week, we received a response from Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger on Friday evening, just hours after we posted Bulletin 128, “CUPW is Waiting for Canada Post.” In his letter, Mr. Ettinger stuck to the lines we’ve heard from Canada Post for many months now.
A week ago, CUPW members spoke loudly and rejected what Canada Post called its “best and final” offers. The goal of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers remains negotiating ratifiable collective agreements which meet postal workers’ needs, help grow the current services provided by a public post office and to better serve Canadians with new services.
Last week, postal workers decisively rejected Canada Post’s “best and final offers” in the government-forced vote. With a turnout of over 80%, nearly 70% of our members told Canada Post, “No, these offers won’t do it!”
Every employer in the Federal and Provincial sector has been watching us. Rejecting these offers was a victory not only for our Union, but for the labour movement as a whole.
To all CUPW members,
Thank you for showing up, for standing together, and for participating in the government forced vote. Regardless of how you voted, your participation was an act of solidarity and strength. And for those who voted to reject the final offers, your decision sent a powerful message: “We know our worth, and we deserve better”.
After almost two weeks of voting, the results are now in: CUPW members in both bargaining units have spoken, and they have rejected Canada Post’s global offers.
We’ve now entered the second and final week of the government-imposed forced vote on Canada Post’s “final” offers. As of July 28, 69 % of Urban members and 71.4 % of RSMC members have already casted their vote. Voting continues until 5 pm EST on August 1.
On March 24, 2021, the House of Commons voted to designate August 1st as Emancipation Day to commemorate the slavery abolition act of 1833, which took effect in 1834 and paved the way for the liberation of over 800,000 enslaved Black people across the “British Empire”, including parts of the Caribbean, Africa, South America and Canada.
On July 23, Canada Post shared some information about its “final” offers and the vote that is currently underway with members. Information was shared via email as well as distributed in some workplaces.