Posted on by CUPW Vancouver

2010 RATIFICATION VOTE ON CONTRACT DEMANDS

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT EXPIRING

2010 RATIFICATION VOTE ON CONTRACT DEMANDS

This autumn the Union will begin negotiations for our Collective Agreement which expires on January 31, 2011. Everything in the collective agreement between CUPW and CPC is on the line for renegotiation during the collective bargaining process.

Demand Formulation:

In the spring of 2010 there were a number of meetings throughout the Local where the members were asked to discuss their demands at forums. As well, meetings were held with Area Council delegates in workshop format where demands were formulated. Following these forums, the Local passed a package of demands at our April General Membership Meeting that were then sent to the Regional office of CUPW. At a Regional Conference held from June 24 to 26, 2010, representatives (delegates) from Vancouver met with representatives from across the Pacific Region to debate and pass a package of contract demands. Similar meetings were held in all of the Regions across Canada. Following these meetings, the CUPW National Office will publish a consolidated package of demands. We expect this program of demands to be available for distribution by late August.

Ratification Meetings:

Before commencing negotiations, the CUPW negotiations committee must receive a mandate from its members; therefore, CUPW members will vote to ratify the package of demands. Each Member in Good Standing may vote at one of the ratification meetings scheduled for the 21st and 22nd of September:

Sept. 21, 2010 Vancouver Public Library
350 W. Georgia – Alice MacKay Room		 08:30, 13:30, 16:15
Sept. 21, 2010 Firefighters Hall
6515 Bonsor, Burnaby
(East of Metrotown)		 19:30
Sept. 22, 2010 Abercorn Inn Best Western
9260 Bridgeport Rd, Richmond		 13:30 & 16:30

We have seen an unprecedented loss of positions over the past four years, coupled with acute understaffing. Moya Greene, the recently departed CEO of Canada Post, has left a trail of destruction and sown the groundwork for postal transformation, as management likes to call it.

CUPW are preparing for negotiations with Modern Post in mind, and the health and safety of all workers is of critical importance as our workplaces are transformed by technological change.

This past week CPC deleted 37 positions at the VMPP, while we are in the midst of the Victoria mail coming into the VMPP for processing. This might seem like a cynical move when we are suppose to be seeing an increase of 18 full-time positions as a result of the Victoria mail. Deleting vacant positions has resulted in reductions in the workforce over the past four years that seriously compromise our health and safety; and we haven’t even seen the introduction of new equipment yet.

Letter Carriers experience forced overtime year round, when in the past it seldom occurred, and only in extreme situations. Canada Post has created the extreme staffing shortages that put external workers health and safety at risk. The latest scheme to cut costs is leaving portions of Walks uncovered, in violation of the Collective Agreement, as well as being a violation of the CPC Act. Flagrant violations of the contract like this give rise to the need for tougher contract language.

Some of the issues that will be on the table as part of the demands package will be:

  • The employer must fill long term absences in Group 1.
  • Full time values for all householder preparation and delivery shall be structured into the routes.
  • Substantially reduce the maximum weight limits for all groups.
  • Medical Certificate from physician shall be the only requirement for eligibility for certified sick leave.
  • Amend 17.04 (Coverage of Uncovered Letter Carrier Routes or Mail Service Courier Assignments) to clarify the language and reduce the use of “any other means”.
  • Include a method to determine the numbers of relief staff to cover Group 1 absences to allow for proper rotation of duties.

The tabloid of demands will further clarify the direction the Union is intending to take.

Negotiations:

At present we do not know precisely when negotiations will begin, although we will be prepared to start once we have a mandate from the membership. The Negotiations Committee will be lead by Denis Lemelin, President, & Chief Negotiator, and will include Asma Barney, Doug Hacking, Sylvain Lapointe, and Cathy Kennedy.

Show your support for our negotiations ~ it’s your future. Please make a point of attending, and voting, at one of the ratification meetings listed earlier. Let Canada Post know that you care about your future by voting on this program of demands.

In Solidarity,

Robert R. Mulvin
President

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