Category: Bulletins

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Solidarity with the Striking Mexican University Workers of SITUAM

CUPW is proud to stand with SITUAM in their fight for respect of their collective agreement and union rights, better social conditions, and wages that enable workers to live in dignity.

SITUAM is a union of 6000 members who work at the Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico’s third-largest university. Many of its professors were activists in the student movement of 1968 and the union continues to be militant in its struggle for a better Mexico and better workplaces in the university. SITUAM represents all categories of workers in one union – it unites labourers, professors, and everyone else in common struggle.

Since SITUAM formed in 1974, real wages of their membership have fallen by 60%. The University has been misclassifying new hires in order to exclude them from membership.

They’ve been on strike since February 1 of this year. A movement – aiming to hold the Mexican government to its promises to revoke the neoliberal education reforms of the last five years – has been organized around this strike. This strike can help Mexican labour to build the strength to reverse neoliberal policies and challenge authoritarian policies in the national government.

Doctor Edur Velasco Arregui, former Secretary-General of SITUAM, visited the CUPW national office today to ask for our support. We offer our solidarity to SITUAM as they bargain a return to decent liveable wages, fight to make the university respect their collective agreement, and resist the austerity agenda in the university system.

La lucha continua!

Solidarity,

Jan Simpson

1st National Vice-President

2015-2019 / Bulletin # 525

 

 

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Same Old Story from Canada Post

Narrow-minded Corporate Plan excludes new revenue streams and service expansion – For Immediate Release April 18, 2019

Ottawa – On April 16, 2019, Canada Post quietly tabled its Corporate Plan in Parliament and to no one’s surprise, at least not to the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the forecast was more doom and gloom.
“Canada Post has a history of projecting losses and then outperforming their projections, while using those projections to cry poor to the public and at the bargaining table,” says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. “This plan underscores the Corporation’s aversion to building a sustainable post office of the future.”

CUPW was excited when the Liberal government announced in 2018 that its vision for Canada Post called for reinvestments into service initiatives and innovation. For years, the Union has championed growing Canada Post’s revenue from expanded and new services like postal banking, senior check-ins and more services at postal counters.

Instead, Canada Post’s plan looks to cut services, which would put an extra strain on an already overburdened workforce, where serious injuries have increased by 39 percent over the last two years.
The language in this plan suggests that Canada Post sees its employees as financial burdens, suggesting that pension payments and pay equity account for most of its perceived financial woes.

“For decades, Canada Post was not complying with pay equity law and exploiting women workers,” says Palecek. “Finally, these women have justice and Canada Post is in no position to complain about finally following the law.”
CUPW addressed all these issues at the bargaining table, and even made some headway with Canada Post until back-to-work legislation halted that work. “It’s time for us to go back to the bargaining table, resolve our issues and invest in the future of our post office,” says Palecek.

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ARBITRATION DAY 9

April 16 ,2019

Bulletin # 075

We began this hearing with the continued testimony of Geoff Bickerton on the history of RSMC negotiations. The hearing continued with committee member, Cathy Kennedy testifying about the pay equity process and Arbitrator Maureen Flynn’s decisions on pay equity.

Up Next

The evidence on some of the RSMC issues will continue on April 23 along with expert testimony from Richard Shillington on the percentage of coverage formula for letter carrier routes.

The arbitration will continue on May 6 and 7 with more evidence on RSMC issues.

Continue Your Actions

In the last bulletin we asked you to send messages to Canada Post’s new President and CEO Doug Ettinger to give direction to the Canada Post negotiators to get back to the table and negotiate. Send letters, make phone calls, send emails and be heard. Please continue and also copy your Member of Parliament with these messages.

We Want Negotiated Collective Agreements!

 

 

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General Membership Meeting APRIL (amended)

Thursday April 25, 2019 @ 7PM

Maritime Labour Centre 111 Victoria Dr Vancouver, BC

50/50 tickets will be available throughout, with the draw at end of the GMM.

AGENDA FOR THE MARCH GMM: 

  1. Reading of new members
  2. Reading of the previous meeting’s minutes
  3. Business arising out of the minutes
  4. New Business:
  5. Nominations and elections:
  • 2019 CUPW Alternate National Convention Delegates (3)

*Must have attended Regional Conference to be eligible*

  • Organization Committee (3)
  • Publications Committee (1)
  1. Financials
  2. Executive Committee Motions
  3. Unfinished business
  4. Correspondence
  5. Executive and Committee Reports
  6. Good and Welfare
  7. Adjournment 

In Solidarity, 

Chris Zukowsky

President

Please note there is free parking in the rear of the building off of Pandora St. and access to the building is from this parking area.

Sign Language Interpreters have not been confirmed.

 

 

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National Day of Mourning – April 28, 2019

CUPW Shows Respect

The National Day of Mourning, held annually on April 28, is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives or suffered injury or illness on the job. This annual event was initiated by the labour movement  35 years ago to increase awareness of on-the-job injuries and fatal workplace accidents. This day of remembrance was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, six years after it was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in 1985.

While the National Day of Mourning is now recognized in over 100 countries, including Canada, and is observed each year, there is still a lot of work to accomplish in order to improve workers’ safety. Even though a number of Canadian legislative provisions dealing with occupational health and safety are recognized internationally, and that in 2017 the Canadian government had provided extra resources to ensure they are applied, there is still much work to be done. ­

At Canada Post, the statistics speak for themselves. Based on the available data, the Corporation still holds the dubious record of having the highest rate of disabling injuries among federal sector employers, a rate more than double that of the employer with the next highest rate. It is time for employers to make all efforts to work with your union to improve safety. Canada Post must ensure that our members can work in safe conditions and go home.

On Sunday, April 28, 2019, wherever we are, let us take a few minutes to remember those who lost their lives, suffered injury or became disabled on the job. We must all commit to continuing the struggle to force employers and governments to fulfill their obligation to make every workplace a safe and healthy one. We must also continue seeking stronger health and safety standards and protection, and better enforcement in our workplaces.

An injury to one is an injury to all!

In solidarity,

Marc Roussel

National Union Representative, Health and Safety

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Volunteers Needed!

The Vancouver local will be attending “Car Free Day” on Commercial Drive on July 7th. Our booth will be featured at both events, and we will need volunteers to help promote our Union in the community. No experience necessary!

Anyone who is interested and able to spare a few hours of their time contact the Organizing Director at [email protected]  with what times and dates you are available.

Car free day – Commercial Drive, Vancouver 10am to 8pm July 7, 2019

More info at: http://www.carfreevancouver.org