On April 9, 2010, Canada Post provided the union with two notices. The first was to announce that the week of April 12^th was to be “Employee Appreciation Week” and all RSMCs would be given gas cards as a token of CPC’s appreciation for their hard work. The second notice was to inform us that CPC intends to start laying off RSMCs once letters begin to be sequenced by equipment purchased as part of the “Modern Post”. This notice, which is required under the Canada Labour Code, covers 36 RSMCs and 11 OCREs working in Winnipeg. Under management’s plans, the layoffs will take start in September 2010.

New Work Process for RSMCs

Canada Post is introducing 6 new Multi Line Optical Character Readers and 1 new Centralized Computer System into the new mail processing plant which will open in Winnipeg this month. Beginning on April 26, 2010, the new mail processing equipment will begin sequencing the letters for delivery by the RSMCs. RSMCs will continue to sort all mail and follow all current delivery procedures until at least August 7, 2010. Following that date RSMCs will convert to a new sort and preparation process which will no longer involve them sorting the letters that have been sequenced by the equipment in the plant. Due to the time required to sequence mail in the Winnipeg plant there may be a change to the RSMCs “Mail Available Time” as sequenced mail may arrive later than the non-sequenced mail such as oversized mail, packets and parcels.

CPC Plans 8 Lay-Offs in Winnipeg

Once the new process is in place CPC plans conduct a route realignment exercise which will result in the elimination of approximately 8 RSMC positions. This will occur at some time after September 10, 2010. It is CPC’s position that these laid-off employees will be placed on a recall list as per the collective agreement.

CUPW Says RSMCs Deserve Job Security, not Lay-Offs

CUPW is totally opposed to any lay-off of any RSMC as a result of management’s program of technological change. It is totally unacceptable that the workers who have helped make Canada Post one of the most efficient and successful post offices in the world should be rewarded with lay‑off notices solely because CPC wants to replace human beings with machines. All employees of Canada Post deserve to receive a share of the benefits of automation instead of unemployment, insecurity and poverty.

We demand Job Security, Seniority Rights and Technological Change Protections

In the current negotiations with Canada Post, the union has important demands to provide all RSMCs with job security, improved seniority rights and technological change protections. The actions of Canada Post clearly demonstrate the importance and legitimacy of our demands. We will propose that the arbitrator deal with these demands on a priority basis and issue an interim award providing RSMCs with the job security they need and deserve.

As CUPW members, we will stick together to ensure that all postal workers receive a share of the benefits of technological change.