Each and every week at least 5 CUPW members in the Vancouver Local have injuries that require either medical assistance or WCB coverage. About 50% of these injuries are disabling. So, in any given year, over 260 people on our local get hurt just from doing their jobs.
This number is high but, the reality is the rate of injuries is much higher as these numbers do not include psychological injuries from bullying, workplace stress, staff shortages, harassment etc.
Postal workers have a right to be able to go to work and without having to worry about themselves or their coworkers getting hurt.
Some of these injuries are true accidents, for example letter carriers tripping and falling on uneven sidewalks, but far too many of these injuries are preventable.
Canada Post tells us that we need to be more careful when we work, and that statement is correct. It doesn’t mean we should ignore the hard reality that many of our injuries are caused by our workplace processes and practices.
When Canada Post pressures us to get more work done because they aren’t staffing correctly, that often leads to accidents and injuries. When Canada Post does not have the proper equipment in place to help us do our work, that can also cause injuries. When Canada Post forces new methods onto letter carriers who process and deliver the mail, such as SSD, we can bet that the number of injuries is going to increase yet again.
CUPW Vancouver reps have met with Canada Post management on many occasions to raise concerns, complaints, and to push for a psychologically safe workplace. Sometimes, we have made gains for our workers. Some of these improvements are long lasting. Far too many are, unfortunately, short lived.
No one goes to work to be injured. We go to work so we can support ourselves, our families, and pursue things that bring us joy. This is why it is so important that on April 28th we remind Canada Post that they need to take real and concrete steps to protect our health and safety. We need to tell Canada Post we want actions and not just words.
Monday April 28 is the National Day of Mourning. It commemorates workers who have been killed, injured, or suffered illnesses due to workplace-related hazards, and occupational exposures to poisonous or toxic substances. This day was established by the Canadian Labour Congress 41 years ago and is now observed by workers in 100 other countries.
Our health and safety have been an issue in this round of bargaining and it was an issue that CUPW raised in front of William Kaplan, the Industrial Inquiry Commissioner. His report is due on or around May 15th.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has an important message to Canada Post: Today, and every day – Workers are important – Protect us!!!!
In Solidarity,
Anju Parmar, President