Canadian Union of Postal Workers and the Mandate review

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers welcomes the opportunity to address the Canada Post Mandate Review.

The Terms of Reference of the Mandate Review Committee cover almost every aspect of Canada Post’s activities.

The Chairperson’s recommendations will have a major impact on the 58,000 women and men CUPW represents.

Postage rates, services, the exclusive privilege, financial self-sufficiency, subsidization and regulation all have a direct impact on the job opportunities and job security of post office workers.

Consequently, it is appropriate that CUPW wishes to deal with most of the subjects examined by the Mandate Review.

We believe during the course of your examination of Canada Post Corporation, you will observe that the men and women who are active in the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, at all levels, have consistently demonstrated a commitment to the objective of high-quality public postal service.

When necessary, we have been prepared to use our legal right to strike to obtain negotiated collective agreements. Labour-management difficulties at Canada Post are a well-documented part of the public record.

Yet an examination of the record will reveal that far more of the union’s energy has been devoted to making Canada Post a dynamic, service-oriented public enterprise.

During the course of your work, we believe that you will observe the enormous potential of Canada Post Corporation.

We encourage you, as much as possible, to see Canada Post with your own eyes. We invite you to meet post office workers, at any time, without notice, to exchange views concerning Canada Post, its services and its future. Many myths have developed about Canada Post, its services and its unions. We also encourage you to carefully examine and challenge, when necessary, both the supporters and the critics of Canada Post.

Finally, we ask you to consider that, in 1996, the Canadian Post Office is very much a work in progress.