In early 1912, in the textile manufacturing centre of Lawrence, Massachusetts, over 20,000 workers walked out of the mills to protest a rollback in their already meagre pay. When the work week was reduced by law from 56 to 54 hours a week, the textile bosses cut back the workers’ wages to match. The massive walk-out, organized by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), became known as the “Three Loaves Strike,” referring to what could be bought for the amount that wages were being cut, “The Singing Strike” because the songs of the IWW were being heard everywhere, and “The Bread and Roses Strike” because young women workers carried a banner with the slogan “We want bread and roses too.” The strike was begun and led by mainly immigrant women, creating unity and solidarity across ethnic, religious and cultural lines.
(Volume 10 • Number 1 • January 2012) A historic round of Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) negotiations is about to begin. This is CUPW’s first time going into RSMC negotiations with the right to strike. While much progress has been made since January 1, 2004 when this current agreement took effect, CUPW’s eventual goal is equality with the urban operations (UPO) bargaining unit. All three of the themes of this round of bargaining— fairness, respect, and progress—apply to our health and safety (H&S).
As you know, women’s struggle for equality is not over. We need to pursue our struggle for full representation in all spheres. This is a pivotal year for CUPW. Its two main bargaining units are in negotiations with Canada Post. After having been legislated back to work through an employer-dictated lockout, members of the urban unit are now at the mercy of an arbitrator who will decide between two final offers. The Harper Government has given the arbitrator a very restrictive mandate with very clear instructions. Is that the meaning of free collective bargaining?
The 2012 negotiations represent a historic opportunity to negotiate real parity between RSMCs and urban postal workers. For decades RSMCs have performed work which requires equivalent skill, effort and responsibility. Now, the time has come to obtain equal pay and the same benefits and working conditions as other postal workers. Now it’s time for fairness, respect and progress.
VOTE YES!! After five months of difficult and frustrating negotiations we need to send Canada Post management a strong message. “Drop your demands for concessions and address the Union’s proposals for equality, respect and a share of the benefits of automation. And do it now!”
In 1910, Clara Zetkin, the feisty German orator and activist, gave a speech at the International Socialist Women’s conference in Copenhagen. She proposed that “the socialist women of all nationalities will hold each year a Women’s Day, whose foremost purpose it must be to aid the attainment of women’s suffrage.” The first International Women’s Day (IWD) was held in March 1911. Originally known as International Working Women’s Day, the occasion celebrates women’s rights and gives us an opportunity to act for change. People all over the world still voice their demands for a better world on March 8th every year.
Negotiations continue between CUPW and CPC for 48,000 members in urban operations. These negotiations reflect the deep division which exists between the parties. While both parties agree that Canada Post faces future challenges because of the erosion of mail volumes, there are vast differences in the solutions being proposed by management and the union.
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 November 5, 2024, the Negotiators met with Canada Post to present the Union’s second global offer for the Urban Postal Operations unit.
Unlike Canada Post’s proposals, our demands offer real solutions: fair wages, health and safety, the right to retire with dignity, and expansion of services at the public post office.
As you are likely aware, the Union could have been in a legal strike position as of 12:01 am, November 3, but we cannot take strike action until we have issued a 72-hour strike notice to both the Employer and the Minister of Labour.
OTTAWA– The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is urging Canada Post to align their actions with their words and negotiate new collective agreements for postal workers without any service disruptions.
CUPW is fighting for fair wages, safe working conditions, retiring with dignity, and providing new services at the public post office that support communities across the country.
As you've likely seen online or heard from the Employer, Canada Post presented two comprehensive offers to CUPW negotiators between 18:00h and 19:00h (EST) last night. Each offer came in a 3-inch binder and contained proposed language that Canada Post wants included in a new collective agreement. The negotiators were given only a brief overview of these offers.
CUPW is pleased to announce that for a limited time, additional life insurance coverage for both members and spouses can be obtained without completion of a medical questionnaire. No evidence of insurability required!
Above are the most frequently asked questions with respect to strike pay. Hopefully, the information in this bulletin will assist Locals in administering strike pay.
OTTAWA– Postal workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action if there is no progress at the bargaining table with Canada Post. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has been bargaining new contracts for its two largest bargaining units – the Urban Operations unit and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) unit – for almost a year.
CUPW members from the Urban Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) units have overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action, if needed, to achieve their bargaining goals.
Thirty-five years ago, a gunman walked into an engineering class at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, separated the women from the men, and proceeded to murder 14 young women. This act of violent misogyny shook the country and led the Government of Canada to designate December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.