At a recent National Consultation meeting, CUPW asked that Canada Post (CPC) put steps in place so that letter carriers would not have to work forced overtime very often this winter.  The Union has taken this issue to Consultation on a regular basis for many years.

The Union said that CPC should set up call-in lists of temporary employees, and should plan to offer members from Groups 1, 3, and 4 and RSMCs extra hours before relying on forced overtime by letter carriers.

CPC Says Forced OT Before Temps

Not only did the Corporation reject CUPW’s proposals, they said that they were not planning to call temporary employees to help cover routes.  The Union has seen internal CPC memos to this effect in some parts of the country. 

After voluntary extension of hours and overtime, the first thing that CPC plans to do is to force letter carriers to work overtime.

Why Forced OT?

Moya Greene has told members to stay home on sick leave if they have the flu.  Now Canada Post is saying that they will force letter carriers to work overtime to cover the absences. 

What is CPC up to?

CPC Wants You to Blame Each Other for Extra Work

Management thinks that if you are forced to work harder because someone else is sick that you will blame your fellow worker rather than blame Canada Post for not having enough staff to cover the absences.

They also think that you might blame CUPW for forcing CPC to cover absences so that the public gets their mail and so letter carrier jobs are protected.

The Corporation may also be trying to soften you up for next year’s negotiations. 

Canada Post hopes that if you are forced to work enough overtime, you may be willing to give up some of your sick leave and vacation leave so that you can get a break.

Don’t be fooled by any of these “kaizen” tactics.  This is a “crisis” planned by the employer. Point the finger at the boss – where it belongs.

Members should:

• Not blame each other for CPC’s  manufactured staffing crisis
• Not blame the union for enforcing the contract
• File grievances if you are forced to work overtime and no temporaries, clerks, or RSMCs have been offered the extra work first
• Look for further information from CUPW on this issue

Locals should:

• Explain to members what CPC is up to.
• Make sure that city-wide overtime lists are in place.
• Demand that the employer establish call-in lists of temporary employees.
• File grievances if the employer refuses to minimize the forced overtime.  Demand that temporary employees, MSCs, members from Groups 1, 3, and 4 and RSMCs be paid if they weren’t canvassed before the employer forced overtime on letter carriers.
• Develop strategies to let the employer know that members won’t be bullied.

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES.