The employer recently sent out a letter and questionnaire to employees concerning unaddressed admail (UA). It would seem they would like us to suggest we give away our work. Give away our work to minimum wage workers perhaps??

CPC STRATEGY

First Canada Post begins by enforcing the delivery of UA in 1/3 segments with out the Union’s consent. This was very unpopular and they knew it would be. Now they send out a questionnaire asking whether we want to give away our work. I believe they have set the stage to ensure the UA reduced volumes fit into a technological modified delivery system that will see the introduction of collating machines.  

Collating machines will be piloted in Depot 74 and 99 in Vancouver from June to November 2009. By introducing this technology CPC plans to eliminate some of the evaluated time we have to prepare UA.

HISTORY

We have been down this road. In 1987 CPC forced LCUC to accept an admail delivery force. They were not unionized and worked for minimum wage. We eventually lost all the oversize UA (over 6 x 14) and by the same token we lost jobs and we lost the potential for job creation.

In 1992 we unionized the 10,000 plus admail worker force and in 1996 the government fired them all. The firings came as a result of a recommendation from a Canada Post mandate review committee; to get out of admail delivery. This government appointed committee was headed by Mr. George Radwanski. 

Of course the result was a major loss of Canada Post’s share of the admail market.

THE UNION’S SOLUTIONS

We have recently done 2 Appendix AA UA projects in Malvern (Scarborough) and Youville (Montréal). The Union proposed that high volume routes be evaluated at 100% coverage, that we get proper time values for the handling of UA, that we have access to carts without being injured, that we have access to more relay boxes, that we not get harassed when we request help or work overtime and the list goes on.

The projects went ahead and we created 3 Letter Carrier positions in Malvern and 4 in Youville.

When the pilots were coming to an end the Sisters and Brothers in Youville signed a petition to keep the work methods in place indefinitely. Canada Post refused. Management took the position that we could use the work methods but they would not accept to leave the newly created jobs in place.

JOB SECURITY

We can not afford to give away our work. Whether we are just starting as a postal worker or if we are getting close to our retirement; we must ensure we maintain and create jobs. As senior members it would be a lot easier to just tell CPC to give away the UA delivery. BUT WHO WILL PAY FOR OUR PENSIONS?

Remember in it’s submission to the Strategic Review Canada Post has made the following recommendation:

Recommendation #5:

As long as Canada Post’s pension remains fully funded on a going-concern basis, and to ensure that cash funds are available to protect service by investing in infrastructure and technology, it is recommended that:

• • The pension solvency rules governing Canada Post be changed to allow an exemption from funding solvency deficits; or
    
    
  • As long as Canada Post is majority owned by the Government of Canada, that the Government provide a guarantee or promissory note that, in the unlikely event that Canada Post is wound up (through legislation) and a solvency deficit exists at that time, the Government will fund any deficit. This does not require any cash outlay by the Government, but would allow Canada Post to preserve its cash for essential investments.

Relief from the solvency calculation could free up approximately $360 million based on current estimates.

Also CPC plans to eliminate thousands of jobs with their plans to introduce major technological changes.

CPC’s QUESTIONNAIRE

If you fill out Canada Post’s UA questionnaire remember to mention that we want the evaluation of our routes to reflect the work we do handling and delivering house holders. We don’t want this work to be done by minimum wage workers or machines.

GOOD PAYING JOBS ARE GOOD FOR THE WHOLE OF SOCIETY