Unreasonable offer by Canada Post prompts strike vote

Canada Post Corporation has taken an unreasonable approach to bargaining during the late stages of negotiations and employees will take a strike vote over the coming weeks to protect their rights.

The negotiations started in the spring of 2008, and the union says the employer is refusing to address the workers’ demands.

Richard Des Lauriers, national president of Union of Postal Communications employees (UPCE), a component of the Public Service Alliance of
Canada (PSAC) noted “we are disappointed with CPC’s stance regarding
negotiations. We have always been prepared to reach a fair agreement with
Canada Post, one that ensures a strong and vibrant public postal service.”

The main issues at the bargaining table continue to be: protections
against unreasonable measurements and surveillance of individual employees,
workload-management issues, a fair benefits package, fair wages and bargaining
unit protection. Canada Post has previously negotiated similar settlements
with other unions.

The PSAC bargaining team tabled a thoughtful and comprehensive offer of
settlement last week, but Canada Post remains reluctant to commit to any
proposal of substance.

The union will not agree to concessions for its members and says only a
substantial improvement in Canada Post’s offer could prevent a strike.

“It is clear that Canada Post is not interested in seriously discussing
the issues that matter to members”, said Gerry Halabecki, the PSAC Regional
Executive Vice-President for Ontario. “Without a doubt, Canada Post needs to
change its approach if it wants to achieve a fair collective agreement that
builds true workplace respect.”

The collective agreement between UPCE/PSAC and Canada Post expired on
August 31, 2008. The union served the employer a notice to bargain on May 1,
2008, and the negotiations began on June 4, 2008.