March 15 • Ultimatum Launch

March 15, 2006, is the public launch of the new campaign, “Operation Transparency”. Deborah Bourque, president of CUPW, delivers in person the Ultimatum to Canada Post, at Ottawa headquarters. The Ultimatum gives the corporation 60 days to make public its strategic planning documents.

In our workplaces, in our communities, we start distributing this tabloid. We ask people to sign personal letters to Moya Greene and the Pledge of Resistance. We start asking other organizations to endorse the Ultimatum.

March 17 • “Green Light to Ms. Greene”

On March 17, 2006, we invite union locals and communities to highlight the launch of the ultimatum by giving Ms. Greene the green light. Symbolically, we tell Ms. Greene: “Time to move forward. Time to go ahead and do it right. There's no better moment, publish the documents.”

Ask everyone to wear “Greene” today. Many will support us unknowingly, as we also celebrate the proud Irish heritage. Today happens to be St. Patrick’s Day. Put on green stickers saying “I want to know”. Start signing personal letters to Moya Greene. Have your family and friends sign on as well. Collect the letters and send them to CUPW’s National Office. We will deliver the letters on May Day.

April 13 • "Easter Egg Hunt"

On Easter Thursday, we go meet Canada Post managers and supervisors. We ask them important questions, such as "What is Canada Post planning for our facility?”, "Will we be closed?", "What do you know about the strategic planning documents, the plans?"

We ask managers and supervisors to write to Moya Greene themselves. They need to be able to provide answers. Leave them some chocolate, as a thank you.

May 1st • May Day Special Delivery

On Monday May 1st, 2006, let’s take part in May Day events and bring our magnifying glass and the Operation Transparency tabloid. Let us use this opportunity to gather endorsements and pledges from allies.

In Ottawa, a special team delivers by hand our "registered letters" to CEO Moya Greene, including all personal letters, messages and pledges of resistance collected since March 17.

May 15 • Ultimatum Ends

After one last call to Moya Greene, the Ultimatum ends at midnight on May 15, 2006.

May 16 • Direct Action Announced

A national press conference announces that we will hold a search and seizure operation at Canada Post Headquarters to retrieve the strategic planning documents. May 16 also marks Moya Greene’s first year as CEO of Canada Post. It is time for an evaluation. Because we are transparent, we release her report card to the Canadian public.

May 17 • Document search

If the strategic planning documents have still not been released by the end of the Ultimatum, we start looking for them. We search everywhere they could be. Whether in post offices, in Canada Post divisional offices, in mail processing plants, in the bushes around headquarters, we investigate. This may also be a good time to follow up on earlier visits to managers and supervisors.

Equipped with our magnifying glass and our patience, we scrutinize everywhere. Some even choose to dress for the occasion as Sherlock Holmes, Pink Panther’s Inspecteur Clouseau, or Agent 99. Everyone is invited to participate. Local press is invited. Some locals choose to plaster their bulletin boards with white paper, leaving only a big question mark. Whatever you do, please send photos to regional and national offices.

June 19 • Search & Seizure in Ottawa

On June 19, 2006, four weeks after the Ultimatum deadline — and if the strategic planning documents still have not been released — we resort to nonviolent direct action. Our patience has reached its limits. We now attempt to retrieve the planning documents ourselves in Ottawa.

At the same time, everywhere across the country, the public, our friends, CUPW members are invited to get organized and flood Canada Post headquarters with solidarity messages.

June 21 • Call for Management Whistleblowers

After doing all in our power, we now urge members of Canada Post management who support some level of transparency to send us anonymous tips on any secret document they may have seen.

Our tools: leaflets asking managers to come forward with information, and offering various ways they can leave anonymous tips or drop a brown envelope…

Operation Transparency Home - Call for Public Action - Operation Transparency: The Strategy - What We Know - Transparency: A Window on Democratic Power - Secrecy, Fair Trade and Competition - Ultimatum to Canada Post - Action Calendar - Strategic Nonviolent Action - Join Operation Transparency - Write to Moya Greene