CUPW - 2018-11-16 - Postal Strikes Continue Across the Country

Postal Strikes Continue Across the Country

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Friday November 16 2018

Both sides remain at the bargaining table

 

For Immediate Release

Ottawa – Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) working in the Edmonton (AB), Orangeville (ON), Port Hope (ON) and Kelowna (BC) locals and, those working out of the 14th Avenue facility in Scarborough, walked off the job this morning, nearing the end of the fourth week of rotating strikes.

In Manitoba, members working out of the Winnipeg plant returned to work this morning, while the remainder of the Winnipeg local, along with the Dauphin, Thompson, Flin Flon, Brandon, Le Pas, Thompson and Portage la Prairie locals joined the picket lines. Members from the Victoria local in British Columbia and those working out of 600 Commissioners Rd. in Toronto (ON), remain on strike.

On Wednesday, Canada Post offered what they called “time-limited” offers for both bargaining units.

“We understand that our customers are frustrated; we are also frustrated, says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. “Postal workers are hardworking, caring people who take great pride in serving the public. But we cannot go back to work at the busiest time of the year without fixing the issues that keep us injured and overworked.”

Canada Post is facing a serious injury crisis as its employees are the most injured group of all federal workers, with an injury rate 5.4 times higher than the average of the federal sector. The Corporation proposed a combined fund for both units of $10 million to help them become a “model organization in safety,” but Canada Post already has an obligation under the Canada Labour Code to provide health and safety for its employees.

“Canada Post wants to send our health and safety issues to a committee. We all know what that means. It means they will do nothing. We already have joint health and safety committees and management hasn't addressed these issues there, so why would this be any different?” says Palecek. “We already know that the root cause of the high injury is the changes in the work process imposed by Canada Post over the last 10 years, and we have presented real solutions, which Canada Post does not address in their offers.”

CUPW remains at the bargaining table.

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For more information, please contact: 

EN – Emilie Tobin, CUPW Communications, at 613-882-2742 or at media@cupw-sttp.org

FR – Lise-Lyne Gélineau, President, CUPW Montreal local, at 514-914-0350 or at lise-lyne.gelineau@sttpmtl.com