Peter Van Loan, MP
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

And

45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 10
Holland Landing, Ontario
L9N 1M7

Dear Mr. Van Loan:

A recent article in the King Township Sentinel entitled “Government directs Canada Post to restore rural delivery” (see attached) indicates you believe that Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMCs) did not have safety concerns about delivering mail prior to becoming employees of Canada Post and members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Nothing could be further from the truth. There were many problems prior to unionization. RSMCs had no rights, no benefits and often earned less than minimum wage. They also had many health and safety concerns, including the current problem that has caused some RSMCs to exercise their right, under the Canada Labour Code, to refuse to do work when there is 'reasonable cause' to believe it is a threat to their health and safety. The difference is that, prior to unionization, RSMCs had no recourse. And if they did complain about health and safety concerns or other issues, they were told to quit.

I must say CUPW is very happy that the government's rural mail directive instructs Canada Post to restore rural mail delivery 'while respecting all applicable laws' such as the Canada Labour Code. CUPW's understanding of the directive is that the corporation must address both delivery and safety concerns.

However, I am concerned by your comments in the aforementioned article that 'the government wants the service provided, and if the union is not prepared to do it, then Canada Post will be obligated to find another way. Rural delivery...exists for the customers, and not the union.' I am not sure what you mean when you say that Canada Post will be obligated to find 'another way' of delivering to rural residents, but I hope you do not mean that the corporation will be obligated to deliver through community boxes or post offices that are kilometres away. Residents do not want this. We do not want this.

CUPW has been doing everything within its power to preserve rural mail delivery and ensure the safety of the RSMCs who deliver this mail. The union is attempting to reach an agreement with Canada Post with a view to conducting a national review of 843,000 rural mailboxes. We want Canada Post, as part of this review, to agree that it needs to work with local residents and CUPW representatives who have first-hand knowledge of the delivery and safety problems within a community. We believe that this is the only way Canada Post can actually restore and maintain delivery.

The union is committed to doing what it takes to conduct a national review, but we believe that this work needs to begin immediately.

CUPW has been attempting to negotiate a memorandum of agreement with the employer on a national review of rural mail boxes that involves residents and local CUPW representatives since July 5, 2006.

We are hoping that the government's directive will help us come to an agreement with Canada Post on outstanding issues so that we can get on with the job of restoring and maintaining rural mail delivery while keeping those who deliver the mail safe.

I have attached a document that provides some basic information on rural delivery and safety issues. You can get additional from our website at http://www.cupw.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/8590/la_id/1.htm. I would also like to suggest that we meet to discuss this issue.

Yours truly,

Deborah Bourque
Canadian Union of Postal Workers

c.c.    National Executive Committee
         Regional Executive Committees
         National Union Representatives
         Regional Union Representatives
         CUPW Specialists
         Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
         Mary Traversy, Senior Vice President, Employee Engagement, Canada Post