Constance Lake First Nation struggle to regain their post office

Canada Post's recently announced service charter promised “98 per cent of consumers will have a postal outlet within 15 km”. So far this promise has not applied to the 1500 members of the Constance Lake First Nation in Northern Ontario.

The Constance Lake First Nation has been without a post office since November 2008. The First Nation is an 84 km round trip from the nearest post office in Hearst, Ontario. People who live at Constance Lake are required to travel this distance daily if they want their mail.

CUPW members who work in the Hearst Post Office now provide service to 1500 additional people, without any increase in staff. Despite being short staffed, postal workers in Hearst are attempting to accommodate the needs of the Constance Lake First Nation.

The lack of a post office in Constance Lake has created hardships such as:

• Late utility bills, resulting in utilities cut off.
• Cheques not being delivered creating financial difficulties.
• The Band office, school, health clinic and all departments and businesses requiring daily delivery inconvenienced with an 84 km round trip daily.

The Union at all levels is working closely with the Constance Lake First Nation community in an effort to get a post office. To date the people in Constance Lake still do not have a post office...

Inside

Page 2 - Editorial: OUR Modern Post Includes Fairness for Postal Workers

Page 3 - The Sweatshop on Wheels

Page 3 - NO to a cheap labour strategy

Page 4 - Darcy Allan Sheppard October 11, 1975 - August 31, 2009

Page 4 - Shape of things to come Interim report on union's structure

Page 5 - Moving on with adult children Project provides support

Pages 6-8 - Trustees Report