To Local Presidents:

Re: Pre-Negotiations and Awareness Actions in October

The union hopes to use the following dates to get members thinking about some of the problems we face with our employer and some of the issues we may be dealing with in our negotiations with Canada Post.

1) October 7, 2009 – World Day for Decent Work

2) October 8, 2009 – Day that awards are handed out for the Top 100 Employers

3) October 16, 2009 – Canada Post’s 28^th anniversary as a Crown corporation

The actions we are suggesting for these days, as outlined below, are designed to increase the level of awareness among CUPW members and also increase members’ level of support for the union in the run-up to various rounds of bargaining.

1)  Highlight RSMCs on World Day for Decent Work - October 7, 2009

October 7, 2009 is the World Day for Decent Work. This day is a joint campaign supported by our global union federation, Union Network International, and led by the International Trade Union Confederation, the Global Progressive Forum, Social Alert and Solidar.

Decent work means:

*  Rights at work – enjoyment of core labour rights such as freedom from forced labour, discrimination, and the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

*  Social and economic justice – dignified wages which allow workers to meet their basic needs and to participate fully in the society in which they live.

CUPW will be using the World Day for Decent Work to highlight RSMC working conditions and RSMC re-opener demands for decent work.

On October 7, 2009, please post the enclosed bulletin called October 7^th is World Day for Decent Work: CUPW demands decent work for RSMCs and the mini-poster Our modern post includes decent work for RSMCs

2)  Top 100 Employers – October 8, 2009

As you may know, Canada Post was chosen as one of top 100 Employers for 2009 in October of 2008 and could be chosen as a top 100 employers for 2010 on October 8, 2009.  The union would like members to understand what this award means and what it doesn’t, as well as what members can do to get Canada Post to solve workplace problems and improve its performance as an employer.

On October 8, 2009, we would like you to hand out a fact sheet called Is Canada Post a top 100 employer – You be the judge. You will receive copies of this fact sheet soon.

The fact sheet is designed to make members aware of key problems and mismanagement at Canada Post in the run-up to negotiations.  It highlights five key problems: 1) automation 2) health and safety 3) discipline, discharges and harassment: 4) cheap labour 5) RSMC issues.

The fact sheet also points out that there are a number of actions members can take to encourage the corporation to improve its performance as an employer.

a)   Take part in union activities. The employer does notice and it does make a difference. It shows management that members support their union and its efforts to improve the workplace.

b)   Think about concrete solutions to problems in the workplace.  CUPW has developed demands for the RSMC re-opener this year, and will be developing demands for the urban operations round of bargaining in 2010 and the RSMC round of bargaining in 2011. We need your input.                                                                                                                                            

c)   Start saving money to prepare for a possible strike. As usual, CUPW will attempt to negotiate contracts without striking, but a work disruption may be unavoidable if the corporation demands reductions in rights, benefits, wages or working conditions. There will be strike pay in the event of a strike, but it is always a good idea to have additional savings.

CUPW National will issue media release on this issue on October 7, 2009.

3)  Canada Post’s 28^th anniversary as a Crown corporation - October 16, 2009

October 16, 2009 is Canada Post’s 28^th anniversary as a Crown corporation.

National office will produce a bulletin for posting on October 16, 2009. Bulletin to come.

The bulletin will focus on the role that the union and its members have played, over the years, in building and maintaining public postal service and jobs, and talk about the struggle ahead and the measures that need to be taken to maintain public postal service and jobs (i.e. mitigate job losses and service cuts).

National office has also produced stickers (enclosed) that we would like you to hand out on October 16^th. The stickers say: Our modern post includes universal public postal service.

Thank you in advance for helping the union get ready for negotiations.

In solidarity,

Denis Lemelin
National President

cc            National Executive Committee, Regional Executive Committee, National Union Representatives, Regional Union Representatives, CUPW Specialists