CUPW Vision versus Canada Post Attacks

The fundamental differences between the CUPW and Canada Post management are reflected in the different approaches both organizations made in their submissions to the Canada Post Corporation Strategic Review.

 

CUPW's Positive Approach

The Union's submission contains 25 positive recommendations regarding the exclusive privilege, financial issues such as rates and dividends, and services to the public. The union made a very strong case to preserve the “exclusive privilege” of CPC to deliver letters. We proposed a change in the rate cap which would provide CPC with more revenue. We opposed the payment of any dividends. Concerning services to the public we proposed an expansion of the parcel delivery services and expanded door to door delivery. Concerning retail services we called for expansion of the hours and range of services offered at rural post offices to include banking, insurance, financial services and other government services where these are not currently available in the community including improvement of postal services on aboriginal reserves. We also called for CPC to conduct an environmental audit of its operations to reduce its carbon footprint.

 

CPC Declares war

The CPC submission reads more like a declaration of war against CUPW than a serious argument addressing the issues contained in the Advisory Panel's mandate.
In its submission CPC makes no proposals for any improvements of postal services. Instead CPC argues for a new definition of the moratorium on post office closures which would allow it to close post offices and replace all corporate offices with private sector franchises.

Much of the employer's submission is an attempt to shift the blame for problems to anyone but top management. The CPC submission complains that there is an “internal management culture of risk aversion”. The cause, according to the submission is the fact that unions, politicians, government officials, customers and even contractors lobby politicians. The submission also complains that arbitrators often find management guilty of violating collective agreements.

Overall the CPC submission displays absolute contempt for the bargaining rights of postal workers and for the collective agreement which CPC voluntarily signed in 2007. CPC wants a third party to review the CUPW collective agreement and recommend rollbacks. It also wants the government to use legislation to impose these rollbacks in the next round of bargaining.

Much of the CPC submission to the CPCSR is inaccurate and self serving. It displays an astonishing lack of knowledge concerning both the past and the current situation existing in Canada Post. The section on the exclusive privilege is confused and contradictory.