In 2007, Canada Post announced that it was investing $2 billion dollars to create a Modern Post. Since then, CUPW has been consulting with Canada Post and studying the large scale postal transformations experienced in other countries.

We've also been studying our own past. In 1972 Canada Post announced $1.2 billion in automation and the corporation continued to introduce new technology through the 80s and 90s. That's what we fought for,

and won, the large scale technological change protections under Article 29 of our collective agreement.

Article 29 has the best technological change protections in the country backed by the continued collective force and action of the membership.

CUPW is using Article 29 to fight just as hard as we have in the past to eliminate the adverse effects of new sequencing machines and increased motorization. Together we will make sure that we get our fair share of benefits during this round of automation.

It's a simple equation

The success of automation is proportional to the union's involvement. And we will only support a Modern Post that benefits everyone, not just Canada Post management and its largest customers.

That's why we used our rights under Article 29 to table demands to the employer in May 2009. Our demands are designed to tackle the adverse effects of new technology, to expand services, to maintain regular fulltime positions and to make sure that postal workers and the public share the benefits of productivity improvements.

We are demanding contracting in of work, job creation, more day shifts, better working conditions, more door-to door-delivery, the preservation of rural delivery and more.

If no agreement is reached on technological change under article 29 of our collective agreement, the union can use its contractual rights to go to arbitration.

If there is no satisfactory resolution through arbitration, both urban postal workers and RSMCs will be able to put Modern Post issues on the bargaining table, with the right to strike, as of 2011 and 2012.

There's something different about this round of bargaining

Unlike regular bargaining, where demands are based on existing and known conditions of work, our Modern Post demands are based on continual and selective information from the employer that affects the union's ability to propose real solutions to foreseeable problems.

Although Canada Post has not provided basic and important information about “all foreseeable effects and repercussions on employees” resulting from the introduction of new technology, the union has tabled the following demands based on the selective information we have received.

Our demands

Winnipeg to be a test site for the Modern Post

• Before committing an untested model to an entire country, the corporation needs to use the first implementation site as a test to identify what works and what doesn't, to minimize adverse effects, and to work out problems.

Expansion of door to door delivery

• Positions lost through sequencing can be used to provide improved service.

Health and safety studies

• We need to know the health and safety effects of the new machines, increased time on the street, merging mail on the street and increased motorization.

Expand services at retail corporate outlets

• Retail work keeps day jobs, especially if hours are extended, and it tackles the unmet needs of First Nation, rural and remote communities (i.e. federal services and banking).

Centralized Relief Pools (Group 1)

• We had them before to cover all absences and they eased understaffed related tensions.

Contract in work that is currently contracted out

• Our members can do pre-sort and mail house work, shuttle services, mobile and highway services, maintenance on machines (including letter carrier carts) and other services that are currently contracted out.

Promote commercial pick ups and priority overnight delivery

• This type of service expansion compliments increased motorization. It also promotes 100% coverage and more competition in the priority market.

Letter carriers to carry only one bundle at a time

• One bundle is current practice. Two bundles may be more dangerous and handling house holders is not properly accounted for in any of the employer's proposed delivery models.

100% coverage for householders or delivery time values

• Collation machines will impose 1/3 house holder delivery each day without time values for the work householder delivery requires.

Rest periods increased from 10 to 15 minutes (Group 2)

• More rest reduces outside/walking time and injuries. It allows for recovery.

Motorized Letter Carriers (MLC) parcel / delivery aligned with Mail Service Couriers (MSC) delivery system

• In high volume areas, MSC work is levelled so that extra work falls to another worker. Letter carriers on the other hand, have to deliver all products to their area no matter what the volume and parcel volumes vary more than other mail.

Tech Services to install all new machines

• Tech services can do this jointly with the supplier or through training

Maintenance on all machines and related equipment

• Our members can perform maintenance on all new machines.

All fleet work to be done by VHE9 members

• Any in house warranty work on new vehicles excluded from the corporation's purchase price will save money.

Plant maintenance work

• All plant maintenance work to be contracted in.

Duty to Accommodate

• Canada Post shall use a three-part 'duty to accommodate' test in any new work methods and maintain the current number of rehab positions. The test must show;

1. that the employer adopted the standard for a purpose rationally connected to the performance of the job
2. that the employer adopted the particular standard in an honest and good faith belief that it was necessary to the fulfillment of that legitimate work-related purpose
3. that the standard is reasonably necessary to the accomplishment of that legitimate work-related purpose.

To show that the standard is reasonably necessary, it must be demonstrated that it is impossible to accommodate indi- vidual employees sharing the character- istics of the claimant without imposing undue hardship upon the employer

Right-hand drive vehicles and step vans

• Canada Post shall maintain the appropriate mix of right-hand drive vehicles and step vans for work to be done safely.

Canada Post shall have a “union made in Canada” procurement policy

• Other procurement policies have a larger environmental footprint.

15 minute weekly steward-member meetings

• Stewards to have weekly 15 minute work- time meeting with the members during postal transformation in their facility. Members need to hear from the union during these large scale changes.

What can I do?

It is important that everyone understands all of the developments as they occur and what the union is doing to protect and advance the interests of our workers.

The union will continue to analyze whatever information the employer provides. We will continue to identify the adverse effects and propose alternatives to eliminate those adverse effects.

Our strength at the bargaining table backed by the collective force and action of our membership ensures that postal workers and the residents of the communities we serve will benefit from Canada Post's introduction of new technology. It's our history, our present, and our future.