We have now had 7 days of hearings with Arbitrator Keller on the implementation of the Modern Post. The issues that the arbitrator is currently dealing with are fatigue matting, rotation of duties, IDC carts and the Multi-Line Optical Character Reader (MLOCR).

Canada Post is Hearing but Not Listening

We have had sisters and brothers from the workfloor testifying to the problems of working on the MLOCR. The problems they are encountering are: mail flying out of the stackers and hitting workers in the face, carts too heavy and too high to push, standing on concrete without matting, bending too low, stretching and lifting over the shoulder and over the head, all of this for at least 8 straight hours.

A Sister who is in the training video for the new MLOCR testified that for the video she was shown how to properly perform the feeding and sweeping functions on the MLOCR but in her day to day work she cannot follow the safe work practices as she cannot keep up with the machine. She stated that when the machine was running for the video it was running at the medium speed and not the high speed that the machines normally run at.

Commercial for Advil

Most of those who have testified have stated that when they finish working on the MLOCR they have sore backs, shoulders and neck and they are often taking Advil for the pain.

Canada Post’s response has been to try to diminish what the members are saying and ignore their complaints. They are taking the same position with the MLOCR as they did with the Bar Code Sorters, the machine is safe and there is nothing to complain about. In fact they are rolling out the problems in Winnipeg to other Locals as we are hearing the same complaints in Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

What We Want

We are asking the arbitrator to order Canada Post to:

• reinstate the fatigue matting;
• conduct an ergonomic study on the MLOCR;
• Implement a proper rotation of duties (combination of sitting & standing jobs);
• Instruct workers not to stack the IDC carts above their line of sight.

We have told the arbitrator that we do not want to wait until the entire arbitration is completed before he writes his decision on the issues that are before him Canada Post is fighting this. They are not interested in hearing from the arbitrator. Of course they will still tell the members that they are concerned for their health and safety.

Many thanks to the Sisters and Brothers who testified in front of Arbitrator Keller. Our next hearing dates are October 23, 24, 27 and 28, 2010.