In light of the many postal transformation issues that our members are facing, the National Office has produced a short video on DVD entitled: “The Modern Post: Powered by People.”
This message from the National President will reach every member’s home over the next month. The video will also be posted on YouTube and on our website.
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The dispute:
On May 30, 2008, the Employer notified the Union of its intent to implement an “Employee Recommendation Program,” which applies to both bargaining unit employees.
The purpose of this program, launched as a pilot in British Columbia and Alberta, was to staff on call relief employee positions in the RSMC bargaining unit.
Employees who had recommended someone for a position would receive $500.00 once the recruit had completed 90 days of continuous service. To qualify for ...
The Employer has advised the Union that all employees who are hired by Canada Post on or after November 1, 2009 will be required to pay 100% of the premiums for the retiree dental plan. In addition, all employees who are hired by Canada Post on or after November 1, 2009 who are residents of British Columbia (BC) will no longer be reimbursed for the BC provincial Medical Insurance Plan Premium once they retire.
The Union held consultation with the employer on this issue, but the Corporation refused ...
On 21 March 1960, the township of Sharpeville, South Africa was rocked by violence when police opened fire and killed 69 people peacefully demonstrating against apartheid "pass laws”. In 1966 the UN General Assembly established the day to remind everyone to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. ...
Water is essential to life. Bottled water turns this necessity into a commodity.
On March 11, 2010, all CUPW members are encouraged to celebrate bottled water free day.
On March 11, 2010, join with people from sea to sea to sea by turning on the taps and pledging not to drink bottled water where public water is available.
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With very few exceptions, every working person over the age of 18 pays into the Canada or Quebec Pension Plans. Workers and their employers each pay half of the contributions. Self-employed pay 100% and many do not pay because they work in the “informal” economy.
The amount you pay is based on your salary up to the legislated maximum, which changes year over year.
Your contributions to the Canada/Quebec Pension Plans provide you with a stable and dependable pension. Your contributions ...
One of the main elements of Modern Post is mechanized sequencing of lettermail. With this change, the vast majority of short and long mail will be sequenced by machine in the plant and sent to the letter carrier depot in order of delivery.
Canada Post (CPC) proposed a number of changes to the Letter Carrier Route Measurement System (LCRMS) and Manual to facilitate their introduction of Modern Post (Postal Transformation).
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In a recent letter to the employer the Negotiating Committee proposed the names of Serge Brault, Louise Doyon and Ted Weatherill as possible interest arbitrators. These individuals are well respected within their respective jurisdictions and have the qualifications that the Union believes are necessary in an interest arbitrator. These qualifications include being fair and honest, being bilingual and having a sufficient number of available dates. The Negotiating Committee is still awaiting the ...
March 8th is International Women’s Day. It is a time to celebrate the gains women have made and to once again commit ourselves to struggling for full equality for all women.
CUPW is asking members to wear Women Make the Union Strong buttons.
CUPW women members have made some major gains...
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As reported in bulletin #13 the Union advised the employer on January 20, 2010 that it was referring unresolved issues from the Union’s package of demands to interest arbitration. According to the provisions of clause 36.04 (b) the employer had to respond to the Union “within fifteen (15) calendar days” if it had other unresolved issues it wanted to submit to arbitration. The employer finally responded on February 2, 2010, which was the second last day available to it for a response. ...
We have 2 negotiations demands that deal with the whole issue of rural box mail delivery. Demand 6 where we are requesting that local consultation take place before any mode of delivery is modified and demand 13 as we want our right to refuse to be included into the collective agreement language.
These demands have come about because RSMCs face Health and Safety issues everyday while delivering mail that must be addressed. But Canada Post has used this situation in their efforts to cut services, ...
Sisters/Brothers:
The postal sector has changed drastically in recent years, and it has become clear that the only way to confront Canada Post and its bargaining strategy is to unite together to protect the universal public postal service and jobs.
We all know from experience that having separate bargaining units allows Canada Post to implement a negotiating agenda that guarantees it can more easily demand rollbacks. This is unacceptable.
Challenges ahead
In recent years, we have faced many challenges ...
CURRENT SITUATION:
RSMCs deliver postal items to the Points of Call (POCs) on their route. They do so based on a pre-established line of travel and kilometres. Personal contact items (PCIs) have to be delivered to POCs within 0.5 kilometres from the line of travel. A payment of $1.00 per stop is paid for PCIs. When the weight and size dimensions force RSMCs to make more than one trip between their vehicle and the point of call, they are entitled to $1.00 for each trip to the same stop. There is ...
February 28 is International RSI Awareness Day. It’s already been 11 years since a group of determined workers who had experienced such injuries in the past decided to raise public awareness about repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), their causes and ways of addressing the problem. ...
Black history month is a time for us to reflect on our people’s past. How did people of African Descent come to settle in Canada? What were their struggles? Who were the individuals that were front and center in the fight and who were the allies along the way? ...
The winter of 2008-09 was particularly difficult for delivery personnel in both the urban operations and RSMC bargaining units. Not only did they have to deal with snow, ice, cold and wind, but also with Canada Post neglecting to remove the snow around street furniture. In many areas of the country, delivery personnel were regularly put at risk because of snow and ice build-up around relay boxes, street letter boxes and community or group mailboxes. The employer would take days to rectify problems, ...
Persons hired as rural or suburban mail carriers (RSMCs) who became employees of the Canada Post Corporation (CPC) on January 1st, 2004 are entitled to use their continuous service for the purpose of determining their seniority ranking. However, we wish to alert you to the fact that the employer is trying to eliminate this entitlement.
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On January 28, 2010, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers reached agreement on a tentative Collective Agreement to cover the Contracted Urban Service Drivers and Highway Service Drivers who work in Nanaimo and Abbotsford.
Since December 12, 2009, the union has been in a strike position and we could have voted for a strike at any time during this period.
The Union chose to not exercise our right to strike because the contractor at Ideal Cartage had chosen to cancel her contracts with Canada Post. ...
CUPW has lost a wonderful, smart, and passionate leader. Brother Louis Langlois, the National Director for the Metro Montreal Region, passed away on January 26, 2010. He will be missed.
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Clause 24.03 provides that, as of January 1st, 2007, and every year afterwards, each employee with RSMC duties shall receive an annual boot allowance, and that such payment must be issued by January 31st each year. ...
On January 19, 2010, Canada Post (CPC) provided further details under article 29 of the Urban Collective Agreement regarding the impact that Modern Post will have on Hamilton, Montreal, Toronto and Scarborough.
New Multi Line Optical Character Readers (MLOCR) will be introduced in May 2010 into the following plants:
•Hamilton (8)
•Toronto South Central (43)
•Montreal (29)
New Video Encoding Systems (VES) and Centralized Computer Systems (CCS) will also be introduced.
CPC ...
CUPW is donating to earthquake relief in Haiti. We are joining the Canadian Labour Congress in their campaign to provide assistance to the people of Haiti.
The earthquake in Haiti is a disaster. The toll of dead and injured people is unimaginably high. The lack of access to housing, food and water is creating secondary disasters.
CUPW members are encouraged to donate to Haiti relief efforts. There are many organizations that are working to provide humanitarian assistance. The Canadian Labour ...
CUPW has applied to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) for a review of the bargaining units. Why is CUPW asking for a review of the bargaining units?
CUPW wants to strengthen the bargaining power of all postal workers. Currently each bargaining unit is negotiating separately with Canada Post. This allows Canada Post to push their agenda of cutbacks and rollbacks one bargaining unit at a time. It also makes it very difficult for all postal unions to have a united response to protecting ...
By way of letter dated December 22, 2009 the Union suggested to the employer that as the parties were close to resolving some issues, such as a drug plan, improvements to the hearing & vision and dental plans, plus a general wage increase for all members, the parties should allocate a portion of the $15,000,000 the employer said was available in 2010 to immediately improve member benefits in these areas. The Union made clear in its letter, and reiterated to the employer at a January 12, 2010 ...
Are you a CUPW member who is 30 or under?
Are you:
•Interested in International Solidarity?
•Willing to learn more about Cuba?
•Eager to meet with Cuban postal workers to discuss and learn about challenges and opportunities for young workers?
•Willing to commit to working in CUPW to take action on youth issues and / or International Solidarity?
If you have answered yes to all of these questions, consider applying to be a CUPW Representative to the CUPW 2010 May Day ...
