Union files for conciliation to aid Canada Post talks
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has filed for conciliation to aid its ongoing negotiations with Canada Post over a new labour agreement. The CUPW made the request to Government of Canada on Friday, as the parties struggle to reach a deal.
Collective bargaining between Canada Post and CUPW – who represent 54,000 postal workers – began on 21 October 2010.
Denis Lemelin, CUPW national president and chief negotiator, said: “We’ve taken this action because Canada Post has to move from its hard-line position on demanding significant concessions from our members, even while it continues to post profits and spend money on technological changes.”
The CUPW said that among the concessions Canada Post is demanding is the replacement of postal workers’ sick leave with a short-term disability plan.
It is also insisting on new work methods that the union considers unsafe. The new methods “have already created huge problems and disruptions of mail service in Winnipeg, where they were first implemented last year”, the CUPW said.
For new hires, the rollbacks include the imposition of a defined contribution pension plan rather than the current defined benefit plan. The union is adamant in its rejection of a two-tier system, it reiterated.
“Canada Post wants to eliminate the current pension plan for new hires now and then impose the new scheme on all employees during a future round of bargaining,” added Lemelin. “We have to take a strong stand now to maintain our public postal service and ensure that future workers will not suffer deterioration in their working conditions.”
Canada Post said it welcomed the assistance of a conciliator in its discussions with CUPW, and is optimistic it will help the parties reach a negotiated settlement.
A conciliator will meet with both parties, listens to their positions, and help them work through issues at the bargaining table to find common ground. This process has proven successful in past rounds of labour negotiations, Canada Post said.
The terms and conditions of the current collective agreement will remain in place throughout conciliation.
