What makes delivery to some rural mailboxes unsafe?

The people who deliver rural mail sometimes work in extremely unsafe situations. There have been two deaths in the last year and many injuries.

Traffic is a big problem. It can be too dangerous for mail carriers to stop at rural mailboxes located on high-traffic, high-speed roads.  The shoulder of the road may be too narrow to stop safely. In some cases, the sheer volume and speed of traffic may make stopping perilous.

There are also ergonomic problems associated with delivering to rural boxes (i.e. dangers associated with a mail carrier's work environment). Some of these problems have developed as a result of new work rules.

In June 2004, Canada Post told rural drivers to stop delivering mail on the shoulder of the road facing oncoming traffic. CUPW agreed. After all, driving the wrong way on the shoulder is very dangerous and against the law in all provinces, except Saskatchewan.

In January 2006, Canada Post told rural drivers to stop getting out of their car while delivering mail or face discipline.  This rule changed everything.

Now rural mail carriers have to stay on the right-hand side of the road, remain in the vehicle, park, undo their seatbelt, shimmy across the front seat and it’s obstructions (including the stack of mail they have to deliver), roll down the window, stretch to reach the mailbox, role the window back up, slide back over the obstruction, buckle up, drive a few feet or metres, and do it all over again no matter what the weather. Picture Tim Hortons suddenly making everyone drive up and order from the passenger side window. Now picture doing this hundreds of times a day.

Canada Post and CUPW are currently discussing the possibility of letting some RSMCs get out of their cars when delivering mail.

Why are some locations affected while others aren't?

Traffic and ergonomic conditions vary from box to box and location to location. Also, it takes extremely dangerous conditions for RSMCs to even consider making a complaint or using their right to refuse. The people who deliver mail are very reluctant to disrupt delivery to rural residents who are often friends and neighbours.

How can rural mailboxes that have been around for years suddenly become a problem?

These aren't new problems.  RSMCs were simply too afraid to raise problems before they had a union. Management used to tell mail carriers who raised concerns that they could quit if they weren't happy.

What are RSMCs doing when they cannot safely deliver to a rural mailbox?

Some RSMCs have complained to Canada Post about dangerous work situations. A few have exercised their right to refuse unsafe work under the provisions of the Canada Labour Code.

What does the Canada Labour Code say?

The Code says, "...an employee may refuse to use or operate a machine or thing, to work in a place or to perform an activity, if the employee while at work has reasonable cause to believe that

1. the use or operation of the machine or thing constitutes a danger to the employee or to another employee;
2. condition exists in the place that constitutes a danger to the employee; or
3. the performance of the activity constitutes a danger to the employee or to another employee...".

Source: Canada Labour Code, Part II, Section 128

When workers exercise this right, government health and safety officers investigate and render a decision as to whether work can be done safely or not.

What has Canada Post done in response to safety concerns?

When RSMCs cannot safely deliver mail, Canada Post has moved delivery to alternate locations - community mailboxes, green group boxes or post offices. Unfortunately, the corporation has not always consulted with box owners or local union representatives to develop solutions that would preserve service and ensure safety.

However, Canada Post and CUPW are meeting regularly at the national level with a view to solving both safety and delivery problems.

Are community mailboxes any safer than rural mailboxes?

Not necessarily. In some cases, Canada Post has set up community mailboxes in locations that are unsafe for both residents and RSMCs.

What is the union doing?

In addition to meeting with Canada Post representatives at the national level, the union is encouraging the corporation to work with local residents and CUPW representatives who have first-hand knowledge of the safety and delivery problems within a community.

Will Canada Post be able to preserve rural delivery in all instances?

The union would like to say that everyone is going to get their delivery back, but that would not be an honest answer.  It will not be possible for Canada Post to resume delivery to roadside boxes if there is no safe way of dealing with problems. CUPW does not know how many rural residents will not get their delivery back, but we are confident that there are solutions to the vast majority of problems.

What does Canada Post need to do?

Canada Post needs to explore all available options before moving mail from roadside boxes to community boxes, green boxes or post offices.

There is no "one size fits all" solution to delivery problems. Canada Post needs to:

1. Look at each and every rural mailbox.
2. Talk to residents when delivery problems arise.
3. Work with residents and local CUPW representatives to develop solutions that make sense.

What is the government's position on this issue?

The federal government issued a directive to Canada Post on rural mail delivery on December 13, 2006.

The directive says the government "wishes to ensure that its policy objective of restoring and maintaining traditional mail delivery is met". 

It instructs "Canada Post Corporation to deliver mail at rural roadside mail boxes that were serviced by the Corporation on September 1, 2005, while respecting all applicable laws...". (emphasis added)

As well, it instructs the corporation to implement an operational plan to restore delivery "within 18 months" that deals "at reasonable costs, with all relevant issues, including the means of consultation with customers and stakeholders...".

The government does not issue directives to Canada Post very often. Crown corporations like Canada Post normally operate at arms length from the government. The government minister responsible for a Crown corporation provides broad policy direction, but does not usually become involved in day-to-day operations.  However, the Financial Administration Act gives the government the power to " give a directive to any parent Crown corporation, if the Governor in Council is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so."

It appears that the governing Conservatives Party believes that a directive is necessary to ensure that Canada Post maintains and restores rural mail delivery.

What does the directive do to our right to health and safety?

The directive instructs Canada Post to restore rural mail delivery while respecting all applicable laws. CUPW is happy to see that Canada Post will be required to respect laws like the Canada Labour Code.

What can you do?

Ask your municipality, union, or organization to pass CUPW's resolution which asks the federal government to direct Canada Post to invest profits in public postal services like rural and urban delivery.

Send a petition to the House of Commons asking the government to preserve rural delivery and ensure the safety of rural mail carriers. You can get information about petitions at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/house/Petitions/petitionsPG2006__cover-e.htm

If Canada Post representatives in your area are not listening to you, your member of Parliament (MP) may be able to help. You can get your MP’s name, phone number and address by calling Elections Canada at 1-800-463-6868 (no charge). Just tell the person who answers your call what you are looking for - the name, number and address of your member of Parliament - and what your postal code is.  

If you're a RSMC, talk to your local union representative if you have concerns about your safety.

You can help by attending public meetings on rural mail delivery and explaining the issues to rural residents and your member of Parliament.