History

CUPW has been struggling to have CPC responsible for replacing us when we are absent since RSMCs have been unionized. In the first collective agreement we negotiated a consultation process in which the Union’s Transition Committee did an excellent job in pressuring the Corporation and setting the stage for the first reopener when we forced CPC to hire 300 relief employees. In the second reopener we negotiated language that puts the full responsibility, of replacing us when we are off, onto management as of July 1 2009.

A list of the offices where CPC must have sufficient relief employees to cover all absences was sent to all the Locals and enumerated in a recent bulletin.

Union Position on Hiring Replacements

During the last reopener the Union took a clear and strong position to have CPC hire replacements and assistants as relief employees or route holders before hiring off the street. The Corporation refused to agree to language that would recognize replacement’s or assistant’s continuous service for the purposes of hiring employees.

On April 30 2009 during the national consultation process CUPW again asked that CPC consider hiring replacement and assistant workers as employees before they went to the street. CPC again refused to commit to our request. The Union wanted management to hire our coworkers as employees by respecting their continuous service; so that the most senior replacement or assistant would be offered employment first and so on. We also suggested that when the original hiring of relief was done that the remaining replacement and assistant workers that were not hired be placed on a future hiring list in order of continuous service.

It is inconceivable that CPC would not recognize workers who have been working in the Post office for months, years or even decades. Any other employer would recognize the benefit of hiring workers who have experience and knowledge of the work.

The Struggle Continues