Canadian Post Office Strike Countdown
Here we are two weeks into a negotiating game of the poor workers of the postal union taking on the mean old government post office.
Two weeks of offers and counter offers and both sides playing the public relation game of getting support from the public.
The government post office started off with an interesting and unique offer that basically says that postal workers that are working as a permanent get to keep their pay and benefit levels and they would get a 2% raise every year but the workers that are hired after the contract is signed will start at a lower rate of pay and will take 7 years to get top rate and their benefits will be lower.
The Canadian postal union wants the same pay rate for everyone because they get the first three hours that a member works each month as union dues and with more people getting hired at a lower rate the union will get less money.
The countdown is on for either a strike or a contract settlement
This letter is the latest on the postal union’s web site
CUPW - 2011-05-28 - Canada Post's 3-R Approach to Bargaining: Radical, Reckless and Risky
May 28, 2011 - 16:40
Urban Postal Unit Negotiations (2011) / Bulletin
Negotiations Bulletin no. 51
With the appointment of Deepak Chopra in February 2011 many people hoped we would see a change in the confrontational and arrogant approach that characterized CPC management during the years of Moya Greene.
However, since February, we have yet to see any change in the approach that CPC management has taken to our current negotiations. Instead of identifying problems and discussing solutions with the Union, CPC's approach on the financial issues at bargaining can only be described as radical, reckless and risky.
Radical
While most postal administrations are dealing with declining letter volumes by expanding into revenue-generating services, such as banking, Canada Post management has come with demands for radical cuts in wages, benefits, pensions and job security. With inflation at 3.3% CPC is demanding to cut the starting wages of future employees by 22%. For current employees, they are offering 1.9% and a cost of living allowance that would result in a reduction of the purchasing power of our wages.
Reckless
An example of CPC's reckless behaviour is how they have pursued their demand to eliminate our sick leave and impose a very inferior short-term disability plan.
From the very beginning of negotiations they have refused to discuss any other approach to the issue of absenteeism even though it has been time loss due to injuries on duty, not sick leave, that has risen sharply.
Risky
The arrogance and intransigence of CPC in these negotiations puts at risk the long-term welfare of postal workers and the public postal service. At a time of declining volumes, CPC should be proposing new ways to expand services and increase revenues instead of attempting to impose extreme and radical demands on postal workers.
CUPW's Approach: Reasonable, Rational and Realistic
In these negotiations CUPW is presenting a reasonable program of demands, which addresses real problems that must be resolved so that Canada Post can move forward into the future. Whether it be on internal staffing, external work methods, seniority, human rights or health and safety issues, we have demonstrated our commitment to negotiating rational solutions concerning complex issues. It's time for Canada Post to adopt a similar approach.
In solidarity,
Denis Lemelin
National President and Chief Negotiator
Here we are two weeks into a negotiating game of the poor workers of the postal union taking on the mean old government post office.
Two weeks of offers and counter offers and both sides playing the public relation game of getting support from the public.
The government post office started off with an interesting and unique offer that basically says that postal workers that are working as a permanent get to keep their pay and benefit levels and they would get a 2% raise every year but the workers that are hired after the contract is signed will start at a lower rate of pay and will take 7 years to get top rate and their benefits will be lower.
The Canadian postal union wants the same pay rate for everyone because they get the first three hours that a member works each month as union dues and with more people getting hired at a lower rate the union will get less money.
The countdown is on for either a strike or a contract settlement
This letter is the latest on the postal union’s web site
CUPW - 2011-05-28 - Canada Post's 3-R Approach to Bargaining: Radical, Reckless and Risky
May 28, 2011 - 16:40
Urban Postal Unit Negotiations (2011) / Bulletin
Negotiations Bulletin no. 51
With the appointment of Deepak Chopra in February 2011 many people hoped we would see a change in the confrontational and arrogant approach that characterized CPC management during the years of Moya Greene.
However, since February, we have yet to see any change in the approach that CPC management has taken to our current negotiations. Instead of identifying problems and discussing solutions with the Union, CPC's approach on the financial issues at bargaining can only be described as radical, reckless and risky.
Radical
While most postal administrations are dealing with declining letter volumes by expanding into revenue-generating services, such as banking, Canada Post management has come with demands for radical cuts in wages, benefits, pensions and job security. With inflation at 3.3% CPC is demanding to cut the starting wages of future employees by 22%. For current employees, they are offering 1.9% and a cost of living allowance that would result in a reduction of the purchasing power of our wages.
Reckless
An example of CPC's reckless behaviour is how they have pursued their demand to eliminate our sick leave and impose a very inferior short-term disability plan.
From the very beginning of negotiations they have refused to discuss any other approach to the issue of absenteeism even though it has been time loss due to injuries on duty, not sick leave, that has risen sharply.
Risky
The arrogance and intransigence of CPC in these negotiations puts at risk the long-term welfare of postal workers and the public postal service. At a time of declining volumes, CPC should be proposing new ways to expand services and increase revenues instead of attempting to impose extreme and radical demands on postal workers.
CUPW's Approach: Reasonable, Rational and Realistic
In these negotiations CUPW is presenting a reasonable program of demands, which addresses real problems that must be resolved so that Canada Post can move forward into the future. Whether it be on internal staffing, external work methods, seniority, human rights or health and safety issues, we have demonstrated our commitment to negotiating rational solutions concerning complex issues. It's time for Canada Post to adopt a similar approach.
In solidarity,
Denis Lemelin
National President and Chief Negotiator