On Monday, December 17, 2018 the mediation process under the back to work legislation ended. Mediator-arbitrator Elizabeth MacPherson was unable to bring the parties to an agreement. The parties remain too far apart and there was no agreement to extend the mediation process for an additional seven days.
Over the last number of weeks, allies have set up picket lines at postal facilities across the country to protest Trudeau’s back-to-work legislation and Canada Post’s refusal to negotiate fair contracts for CUPW members. We appreciate the support of our allies. It is clear that postal workers are not alone. The entire labour movement is standing behind us and is prepared to fight to defend the right to free collective bargaining.
On Wednesday, December 12, 2018 the CUPW and CPC negotiating committees had their first meeting with mediator-arbitrator Ms Elizabeth MacPherson. The two parties met with her jointly in the morning to go over logistics and planning. For the rest of the day she met with the CUPW negotiating committee to get an understanding of the outstanding issues.
On Monday, December 10, 2018 the Minister of Labour Ms Patty Hajdu appointed Ms Elizabeth MacPherson as the mediator-arbitrator as per the back‑to-work legislation.
What is Canada Post doing? While your Negotiating Committee is getting ready for the mediation phase outlined in the Act, Canada Post is packing up and leaving the hotel without even letting the Union know. What a show of class and respect! It appears that Canada Post has no intention of fully taking part in the mediation set out in the back-to-work legislation.
Have you ever been to jail in the name of justice? Six of our friends and allies recently have. Austin Hiltz, Art Bouman, Justin Whitten, Brad Fougere, Darius Mirshahi and Tony Tracy were arrested on Sunday, December 2 and held overnight, all because they protested peacefully outside the Halifax Mail Processing Plant. They have since been charged with mischief and obstruction and will return to court January 4 to enter their pleas.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has recently filed four National Grievances. These violations of our Collective Agreements affect both Urban and RSMC members.
Brothers & Sisters, The holiday season is upon us once again. This is the busiest time of the year in terms of workload, as parcel and Admail volumes are at their highest in the weeks leading up to the holidays. While your employer alleges it takes your health and safety seriously, you are the one who can best protect yourself from harm. You have the right to refuse to perform dangerous work! At times, we are faced with having to decide between serving our customers well and protecting our physical and mental well-being and safety.
We continue to hear of news that allies have blockaded Canada Post facilities in various locations. The labour movement is stepping up in a big way to support postal workers and fight for the right to free collective bargaining. In Toronto, allies blocked the Gateway facility, facing down an injunction and police threats. In Halifax over the weekend, six people were arrested for blocking the Halifax Mail Processing Plant. This morning we have heard of reports of blockades/pickets in Ottawa, Oshawa and Hamilton. This comes after a weekend of demonstrations in 27 cities across the country.
After almost a year of negotiations, over 5 weeks of rotating strikes and the adoption of an unconstitutional law suspending negotiations there were some who thought the fight was over. WRONG! The ground has shifted, there is an updated playbook and there are some new players on the field.
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.
The CUPW child care fund has been working with communities across Canada to create affordable, high quality non profit and public child care for nearly 30 years. From the beginning, the push for universal child care has been interwoven in the development of child care projects and the funding of research that informs and shapes policy.
April 28 is the National Day of Mourning. A day to honour and remember those who have lost their lives, suffered injuries, or become ill because of their work. On this day, we reflect and reaffirm our commitment to fight for workplace health and safety.
Founded in 2011 by Paul and Raven Lacerte, the Moose Hide Campaign began as a grassroots initiative along British Columbia’s Highway of Tears—a region marked by the tragic disappearance and murder of many Indigenous women and girls. The campaign encourages men and boys, alongside all Canadians, to commit to ending gender-based violence.
The April 28 election is happening as we are engaged in a fight for the future of our post office and our jobs. Canada Post is pushing for drastic changes which could lead to job cuts and negatively impact our communities. Canada Post’s sole shareholder is the Government. Who is in government matters. We represent a big voting bloc which could have an impact on election results – particularly in tight races. We can make the future of our public post office an election issue.
Now that hearings for the Industrial Inquiry Commission are complete, we'd like to remind members of some important dates in the weeks ahead. Commissioner Kaplan’s final report to the Minister of Labour is due May 15. His report will give the Minister recommendations about how to resolve the issues in dispute in bargaining. It may also include recommendations about the structure and operations of Canada Post. We made our position clear throughout the hearings that these types of questions must only be dealt with in a fully public mandate review.
Postal workers are well aware that the planet is getting hotter. More and more, we are facing extreme events - such as an increasing number of wildfires with their toxic smoke, lethal heat domes and atmospheric rivers bringing more rain, more coastal storms and more flooding. But it’s children who are most at risk.
A federal election has now been called for April 28, 2025. Although the Canadian Union of Postal Workers does not endorse any party, we will be putting pressure on candidates from all parties to commit to defending our public post office and good stable jobs.