For immediate release

CUPW National President Deborah Bourque urged Canada Post to deal with its past and invest in its future in light of 2004 profit figures which capped off a decade of profit-making.

Canada Post's 2004 annual report says the corporation made $147 million net income in 2004 from the post office and its companies, its tenth consecutive year of profits.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers thinks it's time Canada Post returns to investing in what it does best - providing quality, public postal service. However, recent postal closures and questionable procurement and contracting out practices indicate that the corporation is interested in paring down the post office rather than building it up.

"Our public post office is providing decent service but it could be doing better," said CUPW National President Deborah Bourque. "It's time for some of Canada Post's profits to be reinvested into the workers and the services that make the post office profitable."

Specifically, CUPW calls on the proposed new president, Moya Greene, to invest in the health and safety of workers, public post offices, government and financial services, and increased door-to-door delivery.

"We all deserve better after a decade of profits," said Bourque

Bourque said that CUPW also wants the proposed new president to deal with past problems like the contracting out and procurement practices identified in the Deloitte & Touche audit. The audit found Canada Post failed to comply with its policies in 355 of the 599 cases that were reviewed. CUPW has asked Canada Post's Board of Directors and the Minister Responsible what they are doing to ensure compliance.

CUPW represents 54,000 postal workers in rural and urban communities from coast to coast to coast.