The Canadian Union of Postal Workers grieves that the Corporation is in violation of Articles 2, 3, 8, 29 and other applicable articles and appendices of the Collective Agreement in that it has implemented a number of initiatives, for example, the Revenue Protection Project in Winnipeg, the Global Positioning System in Scarborough and changes to the isolated post allowance entitlements in a number of locations, without consulting or negotiating with the Union at the national level.

On July 14, 2005, the Corporation informed CUPW that it had decided to "review its national network" and that "the matter of the Quebec mechanized plant would be the first." This notice was allegedly submitted under clause 29.03 (a).

On August 3, 2005, the Corporation submitted a new notice allegedly under clause 29.03 (b) providing some information regarding the closure of the Quebec sortation centre, the transfer of the work to Montreal and the elimination of positions.

The information contained in the August 3, 2005 letter and other information obtained afterwards by CUPW show that the Corporation began reviewing this project long before July 14. Accordingly, the notice submitted on that date is late and is not consistent with the letter and spirit of clause 29.03 (a), particularly with regard to the other installations that might be involved in the review of the national network announced by the Corporation.

The Corporation's failure to meet its obligations under clause 29.03 (a) prevents CUPW from intervening in a timely manner and stating its position before the Corporation makes a final decision.

In addition, the August 3, 2005 notice is also not consistent with the letter and spirit of clause 29.03 (b) and clause 29.04 because it was submitted late and does not contain the information required under the collective agreement, particularly with regard to what will happen to the employees adversely affected by the changes that were announced.

The Union grieves the employer has failed to provide the Union with proper notice as required under clauses 29.03 and 29.04 of the collective agreement in respect of a technological change entitled “Modern Post”.

The Canada Post Corporation (CPC) has increased the number of bar code sorters (BCS) at the Vancouver Plant without first providing the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) with the notices outlined in clause 29.03. The Union hasn't received relevant information on the nature of the change, the date on which the Corporation proposes to implement the change, the approximate number, type and location of employees likely to be affected by the change, the effects the change may be expected to have on the employees' working conditions and terms of employment and all other relevant data relating to the anticipated effects on employees.

The Canada Post Corporation informed the Union that it intends to provide/create a DRS-RTS centralization located in the Vancouver Mail Processing Plant (VMPP) and reserves the right to exercise its option of expanding to centralize DRS-RTS work in other areas of BC operations. The DRS-RTS Centralization Project 2011 is a technological change within the meaning of Article 29 of the collective agreement. The employer refuses to abide by the provisions of Article 29 and, more specifically, to provide the information that the Union is entitled to receive under clauses 29.03 and 29.04, which triggers the process specified at Article 29, and to recognize the protection under this Article. The employer is violating the provisions of the collective agreement.