In many offices Canada Post is forcing letter carriers to perform overtime even though they have completed their daily assigned duties. Why won’t they just properly staff the workplace? Is this just a cost saving measure for a company that professes health and safety as a priority? Are they trying to push workers to the breaking point and increase the already excessive injury rate?

Some Members have medical conditions in which they are unable to perform overtime and all of a sudden, in comes Manulife.

Members are reminded that Manulife is not an independent party. They are working for Canada Post and serving Canada Post’s best interest.

If Manulife calls you at home advise the caller that you want twenty four hour written notice and attempt to set up a face to face meeting. It is advisable to meet in person, with a union representative to discuss your medical information. If you are unable to set up a meeting, ensure that your union representative participates in the phone call with you. Make a written request to Canada Post to have your personal file available.

If you have provided a medical certificate from your doctor to the boss, Canada Post/Manulife may ask you to go back to your doctor of choice for clarification. If this happens, write to Canada Post/Manulife and ask them to provide you in writing what exactly they are asking to have clarified regarding the medical certificate.

You have the right to see what information they are looking for.

Manulife may attempt to communicate directly with your doctor. You should discuss this with your doctor and inform the doctor that you do not want your medical information provided without your consent.

Manulife may also attempt to get you to sign a medical release form. Use caution when signing any form that may give away your medical privacy. Ask Manulife to provide, in writing, exactly what information they are looking for. The questions must be specific to your current illness or injury – they cannot go on a fishing expedition.

Once Manulife provides you with exactly what information they are looking for, you then have the right to go to a doctor of your own choice to obtain the answers that Manulife is looking for. You are not to lose any regular pay for attending this appointment.

If Canada Post or Manulife still claim that they require further clarification to the information that your doctor provided, they then have the right to ask you to go to one of their doctors for examination. They will pay for the examination. Manulife/Canada Post cannot go directly to this step; you must have the opportunity to have the questions raised by the corporation, addressed by your doctor first.

When offices are experiencing excessive forced back overtime, it is important for workers to collectively put pressure on Canada Post to properly staff vacancies and to ensure that there are enough relief positions to cover absences. This can be done in many ways and Locals are encouraged to use their imagination. Make sure that Canada Post gets the message load and clear that your health and safety is a true priority to you.