For Immediate Release OTTAWA – A study of banks and payday lending companies in the United States and Canada shows a real need for a postal bank exists, especially in areas where post offices abound but few banks offer their services. The paper, presented at the 22nd Rutgers University Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics, argues that restoring postal banking in the 21st century would help support post offices while offering much-needed financial services and jobs. “Why force people to resort to payday lending and pawn shops when a better option exists?” asked Denis Lemelin, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. The union has been campaigning for a postal bank.
For Immediate Release OTTAWA - Canada Post’s plan to cut door-to-door delivery is getting the thumbs down from most Canadians, a new poll has found. 60% of respondents to a Stratcom survey* oppose Canada Post’s plan to replace door-to-door delivery with delivery to a community mailbox. "The public outcry began the moment these cuts were announced by Canada Post and approved by the Conservatives," said Denis Lemelin, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. "'Lawn signs are going up all across the country. People are organizing. Municipalities are taking action."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OTTAWA - The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is stepping up its campaign for better postal services and innovations such as postal banking in the wake of Canada Post's latest annual report.
For Immediate Release OTTAWA - Close to two-thirds of Canadians have no appetite for privatizing Canada Post Corporation according to a new poll. 64.4% said they oppose privatizing the Crown corporation. These findings are similar to other polls done over the last two decades. "Canadians have consistently rejected privatization as an option for our post office," said Denis Lemelin, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. "This opposition has kept privatization-friendly governments at bay for many years, although it may not stop the Harper government."
OTTAWA – Sixty-four percent of respondents support new revenue-generating services at Canada Post, including financial services, finds a new poll. The poll results are drawn from a Stratcom national online survey which interviewed a nationally representative sample of 1,512 randomly selected adult Canadians between April 9th and April 10th, 2014. This announcement comes on the heels of a symposium on the feasibility of postal banking in Canada, hosted by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) on April 26 and 27. International guests from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France and Italy shared success stories of the financial services that help keep their public postal services viable.
For Immediate Release OTTAWA – In the wake of drastic cuts announced by Canada Post and backed by the federal Conservatives last December, a number of city and town councils began to formally oppose the plan to eliminate door-to-door delivery. That number is now on par with the number of communities Canada Post claims it consulted with. “Forty-six (46) municipalities, including some of Canada’s biggest cities, have now passed resolutions in support of door-to-door delivery and the number keeps growing,” said Denis Lemelin, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
OTTAWA –The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is pointing out that Canada Post’s new higher postage rates, which come into effect today, are structured to give big businesses a break while individuals and smaller organizations will pay more. Stamp booklets, usually purchased by individuals and smaller companies, are shooting up from 63 cents per stamp to 85 cents while single stamps will cost a dollar. Large-volume mailers, however, will pay only 69 or 70 cents per stamp.
For Immediate Release OTTAWA - The Canadian Union of Postal Workers notes that the cuts to door-to-door delivery announced today by Canada Post are unnecessary and will hurt people in the 11 affected communities. "This is a terrible plan and we will fight it every step of the way," said Denis Lemelin, National President of CUPW. "Canada Post executives and the Harper government are dismantling public postal service and refusing to listen to us when we point out there are better options for Canadians such as postal banking. Shame on them."
For Immediate Release OTTAWA -- Canada Post Corporation (CPC) conducted a secret four-year study on postal banking, which seems to indicate that getting into financial services would be “a win-win strategy” and a “proven money-maker” for the corporation. CPC's research study was stopped cold in the fall of 2013, just before the post office announced a five-point plan of massive cuts and steep rate hikes. Blacklock's Reporter obtained the internal report, including a management report entitled Banking: A Proven Diversification Strategy, through an Access to Information request. 701 of its 811 pages were redacted.
For Immediate Release OTTAWA - Thousands of postal workers and supporters rallied in Ottawa on Sunday to send a message to Canada Post and the Harper federal government about their plan to end door-to-door mail delivery and hike postage rates. “The Conservatives are wrong to think that people are going to accept these cuts,” Gayle Bossenberry of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said in front of a cheering crowd at the Prime Minister’s office. “Stephen Harper, axe this plan and consult with the public!”
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.
On Tuesday August 13, the Union received notification from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) that two Conciliation Officers have been appointed to work with both bargaining units. One of the conciliators is the FMCS Senior Director.
Ottawa – The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) on Friday August 2nd filed two notices of dispute with the Minister of Labour for its largest bargaining units – Urban Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers.
Today – Friday August 2 – the Union filed two “Notices of Dispute” with the Minister of Labour, Steven MacKinnon. The National Executive Board did not take this decision lightly. The parties have been bargaining since November, but little progress has been made on the Union's key issues. The Employer has given us no sign it will drop any of its major rollbacks or demands for a widening two-tier workforce. Additionally, the employer has not yet made a wage offer.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has dismissed CUPW’s constitutional challenge against the 2018 back-to-work legislation that ended rotating strikes and imposed interest arbitration on members of our two largest bargaining units – Urban Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers.
We stand in solidarity with you as you bravely fight for your livelihoods and the future of Ontario and our communities. Fair pay, permanent jobs, reasonable workloads, and decent, affordable pensions should be standard for all LCBO workers.
Since bargaining began in November 2023, the Negotiators have met with the Employer more than 100 times. Since then, we have had many open and lengthy discussions on several issues. It must be said: There has been little progress on our major demands.
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.
Once again, some regions across the country have experienced heatwaves. According to experts, this year’s summer is going to be hotter than usual. We need to be able to recognize the symptoms described below to make sure that we can accomplish our work in the safest way possible, be it outside in the heat or inside where there is no proper air conditioning.
Maintair workers in Thunder Bay will soon be voting on their first collective agreement. The bargaining committee recently reached a tentative agreement with the employer which provides significant wage increases over the duration of the agreement.