At its last meeting, the National Executive Board adopted a resolution to increase union dues for rural and suburban mail carriers (RSMCs) from 1.67% to 1.71% of their wage component, up to a maximum monthly rate of $68.16. Dues paid by each member of the RSMC unit will be based on this formula.

A decision made at the 2008 Convention

This increase is the result of a resolution passed at the 2008 Convention to increase the check-off rate of union dues from 290% of the maximum hourly rate for the lowest classification in the bargaining unit (PO-2 Mail Handler) to 300%. Thus the montly rate increases to $68.16 from $65.89.  It should be remembered that, for the urban unit, 300% of the hourly rate of pay comes to 1.71% of their annual wages.  This is the formula that is applied to RSMCs.

Most of the increase will be returned to locals

The increase passed at Convention was aimed at responding to the need to increase funding for locals.  Taking into account the three other parts of the resolution adopted at Convention, close to 70% of this increase will be returned to locals. The three other parts of the resolution provide as follows:

• Increase the extra rebate for locals with 250 members or less to $250 per month;
• Increase the percentage of union dues remitted to locals from 25% to 26% of the basic monthly rate;
• Commit one million dollars a year to the national defence fund.

A necessary increase

Delegates to the National Convention viewed the increase as necessary, in order to:

• Provide increased service to members such as education and arbitration;
• Deal with an increasingly arrogant employer, and
• Shore up the defence fund to deal with future conflicts.

The attacks that members are being subjected to show they were right.  In addition to the Corporation’s Modern Post project, we now have to deal with its threat to deregulate the post office, under the guise of its CPC Strategic Review.  And let’s not forget the work we also carry out in our daily struggle to enforce our collective agreements on the workfloor.