Press Release
Friday, June 16, 2006 For immediate release
Civil Disobedience "Citizens' Search" at Canada Post Headquarters in Ottawa
Postal workers, union leaders and supporters seek secret planning documents
What: Civil Disobedience Action (possible arrests) and lively, colourful support
demonstration
When: Gathering at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 19th, 2006 Document Search Action starts
at 12:00 (noon)
Where: Canada Post Place, 2701 Riverside Drive Main action site: South (traffic circle)
entrance
Who: Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)
Ottawa — Starting at 12:00 (noon), Monday June 19th, 2006, teams of postal workers, union leaders, and
supporters will try to enter Canada Post Headquarters in Ottawa. Their goal: search the building for the
strategic plans that Canada Post has refused to disclose publicly.
The Document Search Action is part of a campaign called "Operation Transparency". Last March,
Postal workers gave a two-month ultimatum to Canada Post: release your strategic planning documents or we
will search for the documents ourselves. At least a dozen people, including current and retired leaders of
the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, have vowed to cross police barricades if necessary in their attempt to
search Canada Post Headquarters.
"What is Canada Post's plan for postal facilities, service, and staffing?" asks Deborah Bourque,
national president of CUPW. "What does Canada Post have to hide? Why won't it release its plans for our
public postal service? We have a right to know. Mail users, the public, the media, we all have a right to
know. If we must be arrested to gain more transparency from Canada Post, then we’ll be arrested. Transparency
is a cornerstone of democracy", she said.
For more information:
Richard McGrath or Philippe Duhamel (613) 327-1177 or (514) 229-8359.
