It is an honour to be elected National President of the CUPW. Delegates sent a strong message to Canada Post that the union will take action now to tackle members’ problems. Over 600 delegates attended our five-day convention with the slogan “We’ll Never Stop”.

Throughout the convention, delegates worked long hours and passed many important resolutions.  They also adopted a national action plan outlining how the union will deal with important issues facing the membership such as the Modern Post, Bill C-14 and preparing for urban and rural negotiations in 2011 and 2012.

As well, delegates participated in two lively and loud demonstrations. In front of Canada Post headquarters, delegates demonstrated that postal workers are united to fight for the union’s vision of a service-worker oriented and truly public post office. In front of the Ottawa Manulife office we delivered a strong message: “Manulife - Get Out of Our Life!” and stop harassing sick and injured workers.

I’d like to congratulate all those who were elected to 226 important union positions (see upcoming bulletin). We all know it’s time to get moving on our action plan and deal with members’ problems.

It’s time that we the union set the agenda. It’s not enough to respond to employer and government initiatives. We have to educate, organize and mobilize the entire membership to fight for members’ rights our vision of a public post office.

On behalf of the incoming executive, I’d like to thank all outgoing members of the executive and national union representatives for their tremendous contributions to the union and our members.

I would especially like to thank outgoing National President Deborah Bourque for her outstanding and tireless work on behalf of postal workers and the broader labour movement.