CUPW Press Release – June 6

Canadian Union of Postal Workers Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 6, 2011

Canada Post escalates dispute by disrupting delivery in Alberta Postal workers ordered not to complete their rounds

EDMONTON — Canada Post today (Monday) unnecessarily escalated the dispute with postal workers in Alberta, affecting mail delivery to about 5,000 homes and businesses.

Dozens of temporary postal workers were sent home by Canada Post in Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, St. Albert and Camrose. The employer also told postal workers it would not pay overtime required to complete deliveries and ordered letter carriers to bring mail back rather than finish their routes.
“Negotiations are still continuing and there was no need for Canada Post to inflict this disruption of service on Albertans,” says Bev Ray, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Edmonton Local.

“This clearly demonstrates that Canada Post does not have the interests of Canadians at heart and is not committed to service delivery, but is instead solely focused on increasing profits.”

Some letter carriers have vowed to complete their deliveries to customers, even if they don’t get paid overtime that they are due.

“Our fight is not with the public. In fact, one of the biggest issues in the dispute is over our vision and commitment to maintaining and improving service to Canadians, rather than sit idly by while Canada Post cuts services,” says Ray.

Other issues include improving safety at work and ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and equally, rather than having a two-tiered wage and benefit structure that punishes new hires.

Ray called on the public to fight back against Canada Post’s aggressive new tactics. “I encourage you to contact your MPs and demand that Canada Post stick to its obligations to deliver the mail by reinstating temporary postal workers,” she says.

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CONTACT: Bev Ray, president, CUPW Edmonton Local, 780-423-9000 ext. 223 or 780-719-4555