After seeing the last mini bid and the drastic cuts made to shift 2 the only reasonable explanation is that Canada Post thinks we are all vampires! This seems to be the only reasonable explanation to the change in processing mail. There have been many studies done that prove night work has detrimental effects on human mental and physical health. Canada Post even acknowledges that more injuries occur on shift 1 than any other shift. With Canada Post’s acknowledgement of this the clear reasoning for this change is we have been mistaken for vampires.
Here are some facts regarding the risk to HUMANS working night shift.
CCOH – Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety defines Shift work as “any hours worked outside of “normal” daylight hours”. The CCOH has identified these health risks related to working afternoon/night shifts:
- elevated risk of several types of cancer
- increased risk of heart disease
- higher risk of pre-term delivery
- gastrointestinal disorders
- mental health problems
- Night shift workers have a higher risk of workplace injury (source: https://www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues)
A Document provided by The Workers Health And Safety Center mirrors the CCOH findings in related night work health risks but also adds:
- increased risk of stroke.
- reproductive health problems including excess risk of miscarriages, pre-term delivery, low birth weight and delayed fetal development.
- gastrointestinal disorders including ulcers and heartburn.
- excess diabetes.
- Violence or its potential is also a concern for shift workers who work alone or in other vulnerable situations.
- Increased stress, anxiety, and depression
Shift-Work-WHSC-Resource-Line.aspx
And here are some vampire facts:
-avoid sunlight
-have no families or loved ones
-stay up all night, sleep during the day
Source: Vampiric Council
Clearly, with Canada Posts “Make it Safe, Make it Home” they have mistakenly thought we were vampires not humans! The constant denial of night workers leave is also leads us to believe further that CPC believes we are vampires, since vampires are nocturnal.
CUPW understands that some night work is necessary for the business. But CUPW will always fight to maintain day shift positions. Canada Post needs to find a better way to process mail, which includes processing more of the mail 
on day shift.
In Solidarity,
Raylene Marshall
2nd Vice President
Bryan Schuck
3rd Vice President