Category: Bulletins

Tonight at 11:45 p.m., the strike action at Hamilton will cease and at 11:30 p.m. Montreal will begin a 24-hour work stoppage.

Montreal experiencing health and safety impact of new technology

The Montreal local was chosen as the next location to highlight the problems experienced by postal workers who are dealing directly with the new technology and work methods resulting from CPC’s $2 billion mechanization program.
The new delivery work methods have been introduced at the Monterey facility and the new mail processing equipment has been introduced at the
Léo-Blanchette Mail Processing Plant.

The CUPW National Executive Board will select future locations for strike activity based on developments at the bargaining table.

 

As reported in the June 3, 2011 Negotiations Alert, we met with CPC management on June 3^rd and provided our response to their most recent proposal.

The Union’s response contained some very important moves with respect to pensions and wages.

Pension

The union has maintained its position that all postal workers should have the same pension plan and enjoy the same benefits. We know that if we accepted CPC’s proposal to eliminate early retirement for new hires, it would only be a matter of time before management would try and reduce the early retirement provisions for all current employees. To safeguard the pension for all CUPW members we have made the following proposal:

• The pension benefits must be included in the collective agreement;

• In the event of a future pension surplus, following the repayment of any special payments previously made by CPC, all surplus funds attributable to CUPW members must be used to improve benefits for CUPW members;

• Over the next ten years the proportion of employee contributions shall increase from 40% of current service contributions to 50%. In 2012, the increase would amount to $3.13 per bi-weekly pay. After 10 years, this would result in an increase in contributions of $31.25 per bi-weekly pay. (This amount is tax deductible and based on current average wage rates.)

Wages

The union maintained its position that all postal workers must reach the same maximum hourly wages. To encourage CPC to conclude a collective agreement that fully meets the needs of postal workers, we have submitted the following proposal:

• We have maintained our demand for a wage increase of 3.3% in the first year and 2.75% in each of the following three years. For Groups 1 and 2, the wage increases are based on the PO5 maximum rate. For groups 3 and 4, the wage increases are based on a MAM 11 maximum rate;

• A cost of living allowance (COLA) that provides full protection of our wages;

• Reclassification of all Group 1 workers to PO5s with a PO5 wage rate;

• For Groups 1 and 2, increments based on five years of service. This is an increase of increments for Group 1;

• A wage scale which begins at the current minimum rate of Group 2 of $23.11 per hour, and gradually establishes a 10% differential between the minimum and maximum rates. This is an increase in the differential. Currently there is a 1.8 % differential for Group 1 workers (postal clerks) and 4.5 % for Group 2.

Management’s Response

We have received no counter-offer from management. Instead, the response of management has been to attack the integrity of the union’s leadership. Despite the fact that the union explained that we believe we have the legal right to negotiate the contribution rates of the pension, we were accused by CPC of trying to trick them. They stated that our proposal amounted to nothing. When asked if, in the event they were correct and there was a legal obstacle, they would agree to approaching the government to request a legislative change, they refused to answer. They were also completely dismissive of our wage proposal.

Media Stunt or Negotiations?

Management has yet to make a counter-offer to our proposal. Given their aggressive attitude at the bargaining table, it may be that they are preparing yet another media stunt instead of real negotiations. We shall see.

Today we met with CPC at 11 a.m. and provided our response to their most recent proposal. Management is currently considering our position.

 

Hamilton, Ontario Next

We also announced that Winnipeg would return to work tonight and Hamilton, Ontario would commence a 48-hour work stoppage at 11:45 p.m. EDT today.

 

Excellent Participation in Winnipeg

In Winnipeg, there was excellent participation by the membership on the picket lines. Many other unions and community organizations also demonstrated their support for our efforts to obtain a good collective agreement.

 

After more than seven months of difficult and frustrating negotiations, CUPW has initiated strike activity. Tonight, members of the Winnipeg local will be the first postal workers to legally strike in more than thirteen years.

The purpose of our strike is to encourage CPC management to return to the bargaining table with a proposal that meets the needs of current and future postal workers.

The Union entered into these negotiations determined to address many workplace problems, such as excessive workload, inadequate staffing, and the constant harassment of workers when they are sick or injured. We also came with proposals to address the problems resulting from the introduction of the new equipment and sequencing of mail as part of CPC’s $2 billion Modern Post program. Examples of our proposals include greater rotation of duties, ergonomic studies, proper time values and the implementation of a one bundle delivery method for points of call other than centralize delivery and stop and go.

 

Little Progress on our Demands

During the past seven months, we have been able to make some important progress. We have convinced CPC to drop some of the concessions that they initially demanded. However, we have yet to receive a serious offer from management which addresses the very real problems experienced by postal workers. Management has yet to drop its major demands to eliminate our sick leave and impose an inferior short-term disability plan and significantly lower pay rates and pensions for new hires.

 

Negotiations Continue

Yesterday we met with senior management in an effort to break the current impasse. They made some minor adjustments to their proposal including the suggestion of final offer binding arbitration of the demand to eliminate our sick leave plan. There was almost no movement on our issues. Today there were meetings of both the delivery and operations sub-tables. There was some movement on the part of CPC but nothing on the major outstanding issues. Today we again met with the Minister of Labour, Lisa Raitt. We informed her that we would commence strike action tomorrow to provoke CPC to engage in serious negotiations. Currently the National Executive Board is reviewing the issues. We expect to meet senior post office management tomorrow.

 

Future Strike Activity

The NEB will evaluate the situation on a daily basis and determine our strike strategy based on developments at the bargaining table. All members are encouraged to visit www.cupw.ca to learn about up-to-date developments in negotiations and to see when your local will be called into action.