Union activists throughout the country have been asked to wear a button tomorrow that states “Your Public Post Office Delivers – For Now”. We want to point out the secret plans of the Harper Government to justify the deregulation of Canada Post and the deletion of the exclusive privilege to deliver first class mail currently held by Canada Post.

LINK: Take a stand on Postal deregulation – Wear a button

It is clear from the employer’s instructions that Canada Post management have been instructed to deny our legal rights of freedom of expression won in many arbitration awards.

These buttons are not critical of management or of Canada Post Corporation. In fact they claim that we deliver the mail. Delivering mail is something that we do very well and regularly.

The employer has no legal right to demand the removal of these buttons. But the new management of Steven Harper and Moya Greene don’t care about the law!

It is clear that on October 9 activists will be told to remove their buttons by their managers under instructions from the CPC National Headquarters.

You will be given an option of removing the button voluntarily if you are a letter carrier, rural carrier or wicket clerk because the Corporation will claim falsely that it might hurt their business.

They will come at you armed with a memo stating the above.

If you do not remove this button after being given a direct order by your supervisor you will be sent home.

Everyone who works inside without contacting the public apparently will be allowed to continue wearing their button however, from the history in our Region we expect that many managers will be overly keen in requiring removal.

If you continue to wear the button you may be sent home without pay and subjected to discipline. If you are given a direct order to remove the button the Region needs you to file the necessary paperwork with your local for a grievance.

Remember when you go to the polls on October 14 that the right to freedom of speech was won by our predecessors and don’t let Harper and Canada Post take this fundamental right away.

 

In solidarity
John Bail
National Director