Canada Post’s lockout is a sham

A 72 hour lockout notice has been issued by Canada Post.

Here is what is really happening. Canada Post is refusing to bargain. They have only tabled one offer during negotiations and routinely issued misleading statements that the union is asking for $1 billion in demands. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is trying to negotiate for pay equity for the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers, which is a heavily female dominated occupation. They also have been trying to resist massive rollbacks to their rights and benefits, especially for new hires.

Canada Post’s management wanted this to end up in a strike or lockout (though they preferred the former).

Why you ask? Quite simply they want to sabotage the review of Canada Post set up by the new Liberal government. The review, launched this past May, is looking at the cuts to Canada Post and the prospect of home mail delivery. During the election the Liberals signalled they would restore door-to-door mail delivery, however, the fine print of their platform only promised a review. It is clear the Liberals are using the review to diffuse anger over the cuts without committing to do anything about it. Nonetheless management at the Crown Corporation sees the review as a threat....

CUPW Files Unfair Labour Practice Complaint Against Canada Post

The Canada Labour Code provides that the parties have a duty to make every reasonable effort to negotiate a collective agreement and must bargain in good faith. Furthermore, employers are prohibited from interfering in the affairs of a Union. Today, CUPW filed a formal complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) that Canada Post management has failed to negotiate in good faith and is interfering with the Union’s right to represent its members.

The complaint covers both the Urban and RSMC bargaining units. It describes in detail the refusal of CPC to engage in any meaningful discussions or negotiations regarding the RSMC unit. With respect to both the Urban and RSMC units, CPC has refused to negotiate on their global offers which were submitted one week prior to the parties obtaining the right to strike or lock-out. CPC has also circumvented the bargaining process by negotiating through the media. An example is they claim our proposals will cost $1 Billion, which they repeatedly make to the media but refuse the Union’s repeated requests to justify their numbers.

Instead of bargaining, the employer has simply tabled offers that it knew would be totally unacceptable to the Union. Finally, management representatives have been communicating directly with Union members, making threats and spreading disinformation.

Once both parties have made all of their submissions, the CIRB will determine its procedure. We have asked that the complaint be heard immediately....

Trudeau government must put an end to Canada Post’s pension attack

quote:

"This government was elected on a commitment to support good jobs and help Canadians afford retirement. Canada Post’s attack on its workers’ pensions is completely out of step with that standard,” said Yussuff. 

“Prime Minister Trudeau and Public Services Minister Judy Foote cannot stand on the sidelines – they need to tell Canada Post that its attack on pensions is unacceptable,” Yussuff added.

“At a time when Canada Post is reporting consistent profits, they are peddling a myth that they are struggling financially, in order to slash pensions for new employees and justify unfair wages,” Yussuff added. “Indeed, no other Crown corporation is threatening to introduce a two-tier pension that would put future workers’ retirement security at risk."

..brought this over from the other thread. thought it was worth repeating

Canada Post has always been a very aggressive employer.  I remember about 15 years ago seeing a mailman be followed by a guy with a device used to measure walking distance (basically some circular thing that he ran along the ground that he used to tally distance).  What kind of a workplace hires someone to follow you around measuring your every step?  Canada Post, it seems.

Its about future of the pension system in the federal employment.  I don't know the history of union activites involved in pension reform of the private sector.  Effectivley the defined benefit plan was largely curtailed in the private sector.  Private sector unions fought against the defined contribution plan and they largely lost.  The smart thing to do at the point in history was for public sector unions use their power, every resource to back the private sector unions.  If they did that I salute the public sectors unions involved but on the other had is public unions stood by and decided "Its their problem" not ours then the decision was extremely short sided decision.  And predictable thing happened.

Now the right is coming for the pensions of public sector.  The right is saying look the private sector has minimal defined benefit plans so we have match the private sector.  The right will say the federal burecruates have sweet deal and tell the masses that they have no defined benefit plans.  Every dollar spent public service pensions is a dollar taken out your pocket.  Why are you paying for this sweet deal considering you have no sweet deal yourself.  The trick here is to isolate the individual and appeal to individual self  interest.  Since most people have no idea about the benefits of sticking together rather following narrow interests the rigth will pit union workers vs non union workers. 

If Canada post union folds on the pension system than in 20 years the public service will have a majority of defined contribution plan.  This will set a precendent for how the government will deal with public service pension plans.  Even if the canada post gives in to the union demands its not over.  While the public sectors are a fortress, they can hold for long time but if they can not hold forever with out the public having an shared interest with non union workers and private union sector workers.  If I was head of a public union 1) raise dues in significant way and make finincial donations to the privte sector unions to work on grassroots union organizing for the private sector.  Without out strong private sector unions the public sector union will not be able to hold. That is what I think is happening.

The Steelworkers in Sudbury walked the picket lines against Vale-Inco for almost a year primarily over the same pension issue and other two tier demands from the company.  The union movement stood on the sidelines and sent platitudes in support. Without cross sector solidarity and a real commitment to "an injury to one is an injury to all" the union movement has been going backwards in this country for 30 years.

..petition

Give us back our Postal Service: Tell Harper-appointed Canada Post CEO to step down

Chopra's contract is Conservative attempt to undermine democratic choice

Appointed by Harper in 2011, Chopra was previously an executive at Pitney Bowes, a mail supply company that is currently actively lobbying for privatization of the US Postal Service. He has appointed other Pitney Bowes colleagues to executive positions at Canada Post.

Privatization, experience tells us, results in higher costs, diminished services, lower pay for workers and degraded work conditions.

As CEO, Chopra has pursued a reckless plan to strip down Canada Post by cutting services to rural communities and eliminating door to door delivery. This, while ignoring proposals to expand services, like postal banking.

Just before the 2015 election, the Conservative Government gave Chopra a five year contract extension worth $2.5 million... starting next year.

While Chopra is still in charge, the following will be impossible:

• a review of Canada Post operations that truly serves the public interest
• the reversal of cuts to door-to-door delivery, as promised by many Liberal candidates
• the expansion of services to build a postal service for the 21st century

Harper's attempt to lock in his vision of a privatized Canada Post in his absence was illegitimate and anti-democratic. The new government has asked Chopra and others to step down.

We voted out Harper, and now it's time for Chopra to go.

‘Equality is the law, not an award’: Pay equity for rural carriers not a case for arbitration: CUPW

Postal workers have politely declined a suggestion from federal Minister of Labour MaryAnn Mihychuk to bring negotiations with Canada Post management to binding arbitration, saying it’s a matter of principle.

“We appreciate the offer to help, but paying women equally for work of equal value is the law of the land; it’s not something that can be awarded or withheld by an arbitrator,” said Mike Palecek, national president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

The union is demanding that Canada Post create an hourly wage for rural and suburban mail carriers, 70% of whom are women. They currently earn on average almost 30% less than their mostly male counterparts in the larger urban unit. 

Palecek noted that Canada Post fought a major pay equity claim for 28 years, all the way to the Supreme Court, where it was eventually ordered to pay an estimated $250 million settlement in 2011. It’s still looking for some of those women, some of whom have passed away.

“Wouldn’t it be easier, not to mention cheaper, for them to just do the right thing now so rural and suburban carriers don’t have to wait?” said Palecek.

The Special Committee on Pay Equity recently recommended proactive pay equity legislation, which puts the onus on employers so that workers aren’t forced to fight wage discrimination in the court system. Canada Post has refused to conduct any investigations or studies to determine if it is in compliance with the pay equity legislation. Palecek said that postal workers don’t want to wait for years for legislation to settle the matter....

My thanks to a union brother who posted the above on FB.

Huh?

I'm trying to "follow the money" here, but I'm not seeing what's hinky about that.  All a postage meter does is print postage on an envelope.  The company using one still pays Canada Post for that postage, not Pitney Bowes or whoever else makes that meter.

No problem of course we can trust him with a public service. There is no way he could be setting it up to fail.

I see.  So a decade ago, he worked for a company that's trying to privatize delivery in another country.

Is the thesis that he could be a mole, on the payroll of PB?  Or he drank the "privatization kool-aid" while there and it's still in his stomach?

Postal workers call for one-month cooling-off period, “intensive negotiations”

Postal workers are proposing a 30-day cooling off period to Canada Post management to address concerns about “uncertainty” in the mail system and give negotiations a chance to succeed.

“Our members, their families and all Canadians do not deserve to have this threat of a lockout ‘looming’ over our heads from a profitable public service. Postal workers want to work and people need to know that it’s safe to use the mail system,” said Mike Palecek, national president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

The union says it is prepared to engage in “intensive negotiations” with Canada Post during the cooling-off period, which would include an extension of the terms and conditions of 50,000 workers’ current contracts. As a sign of good faith, it has offered to drop an unfair labour practices complaint filed against Canada Post if management agrees to the union’s proposal....

Sounds like a good move - kind of thing I would have done lol - although I'd have considered offering 6 months.

Plus, I hope they've filed a pay equity complaint about the rural/urban divide, in addition to having it on the bargaining table. I understand their point that instead of spending years warding off employer appeals, judicial reviews, etc. (which the employer of course will lose), they should just get Canada Post to concede the point in bargaining. But I see no downside in fighting on both fronts simultaneously. I'm sure they've thought all this through, though, and understandably we're not privy to their tactical thinking.

Still, the key things, I think, are: 1. Make it politically as difficult as possible for Trudeau to impose anything. 2. Paint the employer in its true villainous colours and win the battle for public opinion - always a tough assignment. Probably not the right time to revive Joe Davidson's memorable declaration ("To hell with the public!").

When you're facing an all-powerful enemy, you need to destabilize them at every step. 

Yes.  Have you ever seen the movie American Dream?  It was about a strike where a huge amount of effort by the union was put into garnering public support.  Good film about a good effort, though kinda sad that it wasn't a successful effort in the end.

Yes indeed, seen it, fine flick. But fighting the UFCW international leadership can be more difficult than fighting most employers.

Yeah, the lack of solidarity with the UFCW and the local was the main issue behind that failure. 

..the public has always been on side for expanded services. even more so in rural communities. the libs will try to sway that and try to prevent expansion from being part of the discussion. postal banking is also worth fighting for and it's being called for south of the border as well. i have a feeling that this is a time of opportunity when various communities come forward. but i watch how this unfolds with bated breath.

Canada Post bargaining truce could fall apart over 'poison pill'

Hope that a work stoppage at Canada Post could be avoided for at least one more month faded Friday as a proposed truce fell apart over what the union called a "poison pill" from the Crown corporation.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, facing being locked out by their employer on Monday, and Canada Post were both ready to agree to a 30-day cooling off period that would keep packages and mail moving under the old contract and let negotiations continue without the threat of a work stoppage.

But Canada Post said it was willing to continue bargaining for another month only if the union agreed to binding arbitration in the event a deal could not be reached -- a proposition CUPW had previously rejected.

The union's executive couldn't agree to the Canada Post proposal, saying binding arbitration would be giving up their right to negotiate a deal.

Without a truce or deal, Canada Post will be in a legal position to lock out the 50,000 unionized employees starting Monday at 12:01 a.m. ET, after pushing back a Friday ultimatum....

Here is a little humour.

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/becausenews/the-other-deepak-chopra-unfortunate-...

..txs krop. loved it

Signed the petition. Enjoyed the humour.

Last October, my firend and I got into a heated discussion with a group of young men, mostly investment traders and up and coming banker types, over the relevance of Canada Post as a public good. It was depressing. The gist of their viewpoint was that since only their grandmothers bothered to actually use the mail service, there was no need for it to be a tax payer funded operation.

It's not a taxpayer funded operation.

It certainly does highlight the fact that our up and coming capitalists have ideology without any facts.

Canada Post Issues 72-Hour Notice – Again!

Saturday July 9 2016

On July 7, 2016 Canada Post served the Union with a second 72- hour notice of lockout. This notice takes effect as of 12:01 am on Monday, July 11, 2016. CPC claims that they want to negotiate but they refuse to move on our key issues. Will CPC continue to issue 72-hour notices? In locations across the country, CPC has begun the process of reducing Group 1 part-time schedules to the bare minimum hours and swipe or access cards are being deactivated. What will happen on Monday? Only time will tell...

Is this notice different from the first issue (IE, does it have a later deadline)?  Or is it a reissue with the same deadline?  If the former, then seems Canada Post just blinked.

True - but I do have a question.  If we separate letter delivery from parcel post are they both self-sustataining?  Or is the parcel delivery operation subsidizing letter delivery.  

Have to admit that the only snail mail I've received for years is a couple of bills that I've been too lazy to convert to email.  With the threat of a lockout I've taken care of that.

I have only general impressions rather than a clear answer to that, but I think you'll find this overview helpful in that regard - not sure if it will directly answer that question though.

Everyone knows parcels are up and letters are down. Canadians have some history and tradition of using crown corporations to provide less-profitable but socially necessary service, by leveraging the more profitable parts of the business - best seen in the case of transportation companies required to maintain remote or rural routes. Privatization tends to remove that public policy option.

There's a place for letter mail, though obviously declining. But I've always thought that the inconvenience of having to go buy stamps, go buy envelopes, and go find a mailbox should really not have to stand in the way of sending a letter or card or even paying a bill by mail (I don't, some do).

That's why some creative person with imagination (that's not me) should design a new model. Why should letter carrying be unidirectional? Why can't letter carriers also:

1. Pick up your outbound mail (from a secure box at your home) while delivering your incoming mail?

2. And at the same time, deliver stamps, envelopes, stationery, etc., which you order by internet or phone?

It might be prohibitively expensive. It might be dumb, it might be brilliant. I'm not sure whether the union has ever looked into it (as they obviously have done in the case of postal banking). Maybe they should.

End of rant.

In the meantime, we should rally behind the workers here. Their cause is just (opposing weakening of pension plans, screwing the next generation of workers, and pay equity for predominantly female rural workers), and it reaches far beyond the confines of the post office.

Might be a good idea, yet I'm suddenly reminded of this Simpsons episode:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boAWFriUsMo