All across the globe, postal workers are fighting to protect the public Post Office and their rights. We are involved in this fight and we give our support and our solidarity to all these struggles. Here are some examples.

South Africa

Our Sisters and Brothers in the Communication Workers Union of South Africa have just returned to work after a successful strike against the South African Post Office. They were protesting a large wage disparity between workers doing similar jobs.  The Union characterized this as “apartheid wages”. The Union also opposed the use of labour brokers who supplied temporary postal workers and paid them very low wages. The Union won. The South Africa Post Office has agreed to eliminate the salary anomalies, to provide a wage increase, and to end the use of labour brokers. The Union also convinced the South Africa Post Office to convert the strike time to vacation leave.

CUPW has a five year project with the Communication Workers of South Africa in conjunction with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)-based Labour International Development Programme (LIDP) of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). We are funding a series of educational workshops.

Great Britain

Postal workers in Great Britain stopped a plan to privatize Royal Mail. However, their struggle is not over. They are currently embarking on a series of rotating strikes. Their Union, the Communication Workers Union, is protesting Royal Mail’s continuing disregard of their concerns over cuts to jobs and services and a lack of willingness to negotiate on technological change. The CWU has also accused Royal Mail of abusing work measurement systems to increase workloads to the breaking point.

Venezuela

Our sister union, Sintracorreos, is working to strengthen the public postal office. The public post office delivers services such as child care and literacy programs to postal workers and residents of the surrounding communities.

CUPW is assisting this Union to participate in the activities of our global union, Union Network International (UNI).

Cuba

CUPW has continued its relationship with the Cuban Communication Workers Union (SNTCIE). It has been recently announced that the United States is discussing opening up postal services with Cuba. This will have a major impact on Cuban postal workers.

Trinidad/Tobago

The Trinidad/Tobago Postal Workers Union recently met with the postal management about the risk to the lives of their members when they are out on the streets of the nation delivering cheques to citizens’ homes, after several letter carriers were robbed.

CUPW is working with the Trinidad/Tobago Postal Workers Union, and our global union, UNI, to develop and hold workshops on issues such as health and safety, and organizing.

Pakistan

A Postal Action Committee for Anti‑Privatization of the employees of Pakistan Post has been recently formed. It has vowed to launch a comprehensive campaign to oppose the privatization of Pakistan Post.

International Solidarity includes working with postal unions across the globe to ensure that postal workers everywhere are treated with dignity and respect.

International Solidarity includes working across borders to ensure that people globally have a decent, affordable, and accessible postal service.