Canada Post disruption: Echo will be available at local vendors, by e-mail
If a labour dispute is not resolved by July 2, Canada Post will be in a legal position to lock out the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and the union will be in a legal position to strike.
Labour talks have been ongoing between the Crown Corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers since late 2015.
“We understand the impact a work disruption would have on customers and are therefore doing everything possible to reach a negotiated settlement quickly. While a labour disruption remains a possibility, we are asking customers to take precautions,” states Canada Post. “In the event of a labour disruption, Canada Post will not operate. Mail and parcels will not be delivered, and no new items will be accepted. Any mail and parcels within the postal system during a work disruption will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume.”
On Monday employees in the Urban and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers bargaining units voted to strike but on Tuesday the union asked Canada Post management for a two-week extension on the so-called cooling-off period, at the end of which the union says Canada Post might either lock its workers out or try to force a walkout through “punitive changes to their working conditions”.
“We are asking management to give us a chance, to give the public review a chance, to keep sitting down with us at the bargaining table, and give the workers a chance to get a fair deal,” said Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ national president Mike Palecek.
The union says Canada Post is in its 20th profitable year out of the past 22 and postal workers are fighting exorbitant demands for cutbacks and concessions that they say just aren’t reasonable in light of the company’s success.
“Mr. Chopra and his executive team are getting their bonuses every year,” said Palecek, referring to the Harper-appointed president and CEO who has refused to resign since the Liberals took office. “We don’t understand why he needs to squeeze so much out of the people who are making the profits for him.”
If Canada Post management refuses to extend the cooling-off period, Palecek says his union still aims to keep negotiations going.
“We’re concerned that a labour dispute will taint the outcome of the very important review that the Liberals are conducting,” said Palecek. “We’ll do everything we can to avert that.”
A lockout or a strike would affect delivery of The Creemore Echo newspaper.
We are working on a contingency plan and in the meantime urge people who wish to receive an electronic copy of the newspaper to e-mail info@creemore.com. See page 4 for more.
