Dear Comrades,
Postal workers across the nation have agreed not to go on strike Wednesday. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said negotiations will continue. Talks have been ongoing between CUPW and Canada Post since last fall.
"Canada Post has been very focused on its demands, not ours," said CUPW president Denis Lemelin in a media release. "The corporation wants to pay new employees 30% less." The proposed pay cuts would have given new employees wages of $17.50 an hour instead of the previous $24 starting rate.
"(Canada Post) wants to reduce their benefits, weaken their job security and provide an inferior pension," continued Lemelin. "It also wants to attack retiree benefits, sick leave and turn back the clock on many other contract provisions."
In Canada Post's recent proposal, pay starts at $18 an hour. Canada Post's offer currently on the table has employees getting a 1.75% raise for the first 12 months of the four-year proposal, another 1.75% in the second year, 1.9% in the third year and 2% in the final year.
Short-term disability would be 70% of pay for up to 30 weeks. Pensions come in effect after 30 years of work, with a minimum retirement age at 60. "The proposals in the document are fair and reasonable and represent our best offer to the union," stated Canada Post on its website.
The corporation had previously proposed eliminating a paid half-hour lunch period for future employees, but removed this from the offer sent to CUPW May 17. "A strike in the current environment would hurt the company and employees," said Jacques Cote, chief operating officer of Canada Post in a letter sent to employees.
"The company will lose customers and revenue, employees will lose their pay, and we will not be any closer to reaching a new collective agreement. At the same time, our competitors will take business away from us that we may not get back.
"This has already started occurring due to the uncertainty surrounding a potential work stoppage at Canada Post." Another concern for CUPW has been Canada Post's recent introduction of $2 billion worth of technology to restructure the postal system, making some positions obsolete.
"The union is urging Canada Post to consider service expansion, including postal banking, as a way for the postal sector to stay relevant and maintain good jobs in the digital age," Lemelin said.
"Many countries, including Brazil, New Zealand, France, Italy, India, Australia, Switzerland and the UK, are rising to the challenge by making enhanced services available through their comprehensive postal networks."
Canada's last national postal strike occurred in 1997.
By Eric Plummer QMI Agency
Record-Gazette
