Moya Greene Unleashes Blitzkreig on Retirement Benefits

On October 26, 2009, Canada Post launched a lightning strike on CUPW retirement benefits. In a notice sent to the National Union, Canada Post advised that it intends to offload the cost of dental and medical plan premiums onto future retirees:

The purpose of this notice is to advise you that effective November 1, 2009, all employees who are hired by Canada Post on or after November 1, 2009 and who later meet the eligibility criteria will be required to pay 100% for the premiums for the retiree dental plan. In addition, effective November 1, 2009, all employees who are hired by Canada Post on or after November 1, 2009 who are residents of British Columbia (BC) will no longer be reimbursed for the BC provincial Medical Insurance Plant Premium (Medical Services Plan (MSP) of British Columbia) once they retire. Continue reading “Moya Greene Unleashes Blitzkreig on Retirement Benefits”

Our Petition: Sign Up For Services

The CUPW has produced a petition opposing any changes to the moratorium and the legalization of the remailers.  It also supports improvement and expansion of postal services to the public.  Please make copies of the petition from the Website (cupw.ca/petitions — petition_june2009_en.pdf), and have it signed by your co‑workers, friends, family and people in your community.

Let the government know where you stand.

In solidarity,

Denis Lemelin
National President

Honesty Unleashes Fury of Discipline

Canada Post invited us to come to the Regional Forum with
honest feedback. What they didn’t tell us was that if we
spoke up they would discipline us.

A management employee described the Regional Forum at the VMPP on June 25th as a “horrible” meeting for Moya Greene. What made it so awful from management’s point of view? First, employees at the meeting voiced their displeasure when the Vice-President insulted us about the time we take off due to illness or injury. Second, an employee told the truth about the amount of overtime letter carriers work. And lastly, the Regional Grievance Officer for CUPW, Ken Mooney, attempted to voice some of our concerns and ask a question.

Tough questions? Disagreement? A reality check about what’ s really happening on the floor? A highly-paid executive should have been able to handle these with grace. Instead, the President is reported to have given local management a tongue-lashing. Management then decided that the CUPW members who made them look bad in front of her would pay.

Continue reading “Honesty Unleashes Fury of Discipline”

New Westminster Letter Carrier Returns to Work after Unjust discharge

A New Westminster Letter Carrier has returned to work over one year after being unjustly discharged.

On June 23, 2008, Vanessa Valentyne was discharged by Canada Post on the grounds that she was negligent in delaying the delivery of two partial sets of flyers, an error for which she took full responsibility and offered an apology. Despite her ten years of service and clean personal file, Kevin Sullivan, Southern Zone Manager, decided to ignore progressive discipline and proceeded directly with discharge.

At Canada Post, the distinction between an honest mistake and “major misconduct” is often completely arbitrary, largely dependent on the attitude of the management representatives involved. In this case, Canada Post chose to pursue a petty, vindictive discharge instead of exercising common sense.

This arbitration hearing was twice delayed because of Canada Post’s requests for adjournments. The Corporation attempted to obtain a third adjournment by claiming that Kevin Sullivan was “not available” to attend the June 10, 2009 arbitration hearing. In reality, Sullivan was at home serving a five day suspension, himself the beneficiary of progressive discipline. Despite the Corporation’s attempt to further delay the proceedings, Sullivan was compelled to attend the hearing after a process server was dispatched to his residence.

At the commencement of the hearing, Canada Post attempted to alter its allegations. The lawyer appointed to represent Canada Post pulled out the fraud brush and went to great lengths to convince the arbitrator that the Grievor was a liar and had deliberately delayed the delivery of mail. With Kevin Sullivan at his side, Canada Post’s lawyer also argued that the Grievor was dishonest and held contempt for her job.

In assessing the evidence, Arbitrator Joan Gordon rejected each of Canada Post’s claims:

The evidence does not support a finding of dishonesty, deceit and/or surreptitiousness by the Grievor.

In the result, Arbitrator Gordon reduced the penalty of discharge to a five (5) day suspension. The Grievor is now entitled to lost wages and benefits for a period of approximately one year.

In her June 25, 2009 presentation to employees at the Vancouver Mail Processing Plant, Canada Post CEO Moya Greene (the architect of our current labour relations climate) made condescending reference to our “petty grievance procedure”. Notwithstanding those comments, the importance of our “petty grievance procedure” is underscored by the skyrocketing discharge rate in the Pacific Region. Since January 1, 2009 the discharge rate is on track to increase by 263%!

It is the “petty grievance procedure” that protects employees from frivolous, petty, unjust discharges.

Welcome back, Vanessa!

In solidarity,
Ken Mooney
Regional Grievance Officer

Canada Post Reneges on Invitation, Calls in Goon Squad and RCMP!

Canada Post’s Regional Forums at the Vancouver Mail Processing Plant (VMPP) and Richmond Delivery Center (RDC) offered CUPW members a very revealing glimpse of Moya Greene’s attitude towards CUPW members and their authorized bargaining unit representatives.

The Insults

On June 25, 2009, Moya Greene provided VMPP employees with the first of two presentations on the current state of Canada Post, with emphasis on the current economy and the need to cut costs.

Things went awry after Vice-President Doug Jones brazenly suggested that postal workers have been guilty of dishonest injury claims and malingering. To throw fuel on the fire, it was also suggested that CUPW members abuse their sick leave. Unsurprisingly, numerous employees took great exception to those comments. After breaking out the fraud brush, Ms Greene and Mr. Jones quickly discovered that employees do not like being insulted. Pulling guard, Moya Greene refused to engage in a transparent discussion regarding her future cost-cutting plans. Unable to control the response that she incited, Ms Greene also cut off questions!

 Welcome to Walmart!

On June 26, 2009, Moya Greene conducted the second Regional Forum at the RDC. Prior to the meeting, RDC employees were told that they could not start working until Moya had completed her presentation. Perhaps to suppress any further displays of dissension, Canada Post also put in place a heavy security presence.

Although CUPW representatives had been invited in writing to attend the same session, Canada Post abruptly reneged on that invitation, without notice, and refused to allow elected bargaining unit representatives into the facility. A group of security staff were on hand to act as greeters. Immediately recognizable by their mismatched suits and brown shoes, the security staff became physically aggressive towards some of the officers who had been invited to the meeting. After unsuccessfully intimidating CUPW officers, Canada Post called in the RCMP.

Canada Post pled its case, but was unsuccessful in convincing the RCMP to remove CUPW officers from the site. Much to Canada Post’s chagrin, no CUPW officers were tasered, nor were there any arrests.

Doug Strangward, a Man of Contradictions!

Contrary to the written invitation that was provided to the Union, Doug Strangward, RDC Director, insisted that the meeting was “for employees only”. Strangward also claimed that CUPW officers had not provided notice of the visit.

Was Doug Strangward telling the truth? Click here make up your own mind!

Paving the Road to Cutbacks!

Moya Greene’s presentations during both forums made reference to negotiated employee benefits such as sick leave, IOD leave, and vacation leave.

In a controlled environment, Moya Greene is able to make representations without being questioned or challenged. For this reason, Moya obviously gave orders to exclude CUPW bargaining unit representatives from the second Regional Forum. 

In a true forum, Moya Greene would not be able to hide behind a line of security goons or avoid answering questions regarding her plans to take away employee benefits.

In a true forum, Moya Greene would not be able to duck questions about her 33% personal bonus (with her personal performance bonus, Moya Greene now earns twice as much as the prime minister!).

But the purpose of the Regional Forums was not to have an open, transparent discussion; Moya was in Vancouver to pave the road to cutbacks. The real purpose of her visit was to convince CUPW members that their benefit plans are too lavish – without any opposing views.

Departing in Style!

Prior to her departure, several CUPW officers asked if they could have their photo taken with Moya Greene. To their great disappointment, she declined to make herself available for that purpose.

After addressing RDC employees, Moya Greene met privately with supervisory staff. With security staff acting as a distraction at the South exit, Moya scurried out the North exit and was driven away, but not before a security goon shoved a CUPW member off the sidewalk!     

Moya Greene, living the Corporate Values!

Ken Mooney

Regional Grievance Officer