CUPW Calls for Moratorium relating to Rural Delivery and Safety

Canada Post is currently reviewing 843,000 roadside mailboxes. As a result of this review, the corporation has informed many rural residents that they can no longer have roadside mail delivery because their mailbox cannot be delivered to safely.

In the course of reviewing mailboxes, the corporation does not always take the time to talk to rural residents or explore all available options before moving mail delivery to a community box, group box or a post office. Likewise, it does not consult with union representatives or rural delivery workers who have first-hand knowledge of the safety and delivery problems within a community.

This unilateral approach has lead to frustration and outrage among rural residents and difficulties for rural delivery workers. CUPW believes that Canada Post needs to thoroughly consult and explore all available options with rural residents as well as local union officials who represent rural and suburban mail carriers.

This is why the union has called for a moratorium relating to rural delivery and safety.

Terms of moratorium

1. Canada Post should stop taking unilateral decisions regarding rural mail delivery.

2. Canada Post should not be allowed to move rural mail delivery from roadside boxes to other locations until it has thoroughly consulted and explored all available options with rural residents as well as local union officials who represent rural delivery workers and who have first-hand knowledge of the safety and delivery problems within a community.

3. This process should be subject to an exception in cases where a rural and suburban mail carrier has identified unsafe roadside mailboxes. In such cases, Canada Post, the rural resident and local union officials should work out an interim solution. For example, the rural delivery worker could drive up to the rural resident’s door, have a neighbour accept the rural resident’s mail on a temporary basis with permission from the resident and neighbour or, if necessary, temporarily move delivery to a post office.

4. Canada Post should go back and review roadside mailboxes in cases where proper consultation has not occurred and rural residents have lost home delivery.

What can you do?

Distribute the mail-in leaflet: The union has produced a mail-in leaflet that can be distributed to rural and suburban residents that have not had their roadside mailbox reviewed by Canada Post. Please remember that you cannot distribute union material while at work or use crown keys.

Send a letter to your MP: The union has also produced a draft letter that members may wish to send to members of Parliament (postage free).

You can get this material from your local or the union’s website:
http://www.cupw.ca/8/5/9/0/index1.shtml