The Honorable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Labour
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

RE: Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act, S.C. 2011, c. 17 – Application for Mediation

Dear Minister Raitt:

We have just received Justice Tremblay-Lamer’s decision disqualifying Arbitrator Guy Dufort. We believe the next step in this matter should be the intervention of a federal mediator. Please consider this our official request for mediation.

Sincerely yours,

Denis Lemelin
National President
Chief Negotiator, Urban Postal Operations Unit

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ROUTE OVER ASSESMENT PAY RECOVERY
A Letter from National

ROUTE ASSESSMENTS IN THE SAP & GEOROUTE Dear Sisters, Brothers, This is further to the national consultation meeting held on July 4, 2012. During that meeting, the Corporation alleged that discrepancies between route assessments in the SAP and GeoRoute led to mistakes in the payments for over-assessed routes provided for under the collective agreement. According to the Corporation, the problem lasted from March 2010 to December 2011. The Corporation advised us of its intent to pay the amount owed to employees on the paycheque of August 2, 2012. As for recovering overpayments, we asked the Corporation to abstain from recovering any amount from the affected employees. If, nevertheless, the Corporation decides to go ahead and recover the overpayments, it must do so while respecting the collective agreement, more particularly clause 35.06. The Corporation provided the Union with a list of affected routes, as well as a list of employees with the amounts the Corporation intends to pay or recover. These lists will be sent to National Directors by e-mail. Needless to say, this situation is deplorable and detrimental to employees for many reasons, including, but not limited to, the following: • Negative tax consequences for 2010, 2011 and 2012. • Considerable amounts to be recovered (up to $3,784.72). • Failure to create full-time positions for 47 part-time routes assessed at more than 360 minutes. • Hours worked by temporary employees to fill regular positions. If this situation results in violations of the collective agreement, you should file a grievance. In Solidarity, Nicolas Presne National Union Representative

 

The Vancouver local is awaiting direction from the National office. Be prepared to grieve. Retain all supporting documentation (letters of notice, pay statements, etc.).

Solidarity

August 1, 2012                            Bulletin No. 100

Urban Negotiations: CUPW Studies CPC’s New Offer

Today the Urban Operations Negotiations Committee met to examine the unexpected offer that was recently presented to the Union by Canada Post Corporation.

New Demands

The new offer includes many demands which were no longer outstanding in June 2011; and also includes several demands that were never raised by management during the nine months of negotiations during 2010-2011.

Some of the new demands from Canada Post include:

• Reduced job security.
• Elimination of the wash-up periods.
• Reduced early retirement provisions for current employees.
• Elimination of the protection of 493 retail counters.
• Elimination of the protections against contracting out of VES work.

Unclear Demands

There are also many aspects of the Employers proposal which are not clear.

Some of the unclear proposals from Canada Post include:

• The impact of the pension changes on current employees.
• The COLA formula.
• Impact of the elimination of the wash-up period for all employees.
• Impact of the elimination of the paid meal period for new employees.
• The impact of the new wage scale on temporary workers.
• The meaning of “a new post-retirement health care plan” for retirees.
• The meaning of “minor housekeeping changes” to retiree benefits.
• The changes being proposed to Appendix V(1) and CC to include time certainty.
• The changes being proposed to the work rules of Groups 3 and 4.
• The changes being proposed to the arbitrators list.

Union Seeking Clarification

Prior to responding to CPC, the Union is seeking clarification on these and other issues which are unclear in the employer’s proposal.

Benefit Concessions Won’t Generate Mail Volumes

While we are waiting for the employer to reply to our questions it is important to consider that lower labour costs will do nothing to generate new revenues for Canada Post or add new letter volumes into the mail stream. CPC should follow the lead of other postal administrations and look to expansion, innovation, and the introduction of new revenue generating services. It does not take skill or imagination to demand rollbacks and concessions. CPC has tremendous assets which include the largest fleet of vehicles in the country, the most extensive retail network and daily delivery to households and businesses in every community.

We need a management that will utilize these assets to build a secure future for the public postal service and its workers.

In Solidarity,

Denis Lemelin

National President and Chief Negotiator

 

2011-2015 – Bulletin No. 69

BY-ELECTION
Recording Secretary/By-laws Chair

The above position is vacant, and now open for election.

6.9 The Recording Secretary/By-Laws Chair:

6.9 A Shall be an elected officer and voting member of the Executive Committee.
6.9 B Shall take the minutes of all Executive Committee, General Membership and Special Meetings of the Local.
6.9 C Shall be the Chair of the By-laws Committee.

9.3D Candidates must be a member in good standing and must have attended at least three General Membership Meetings in the twelve (12) months prior to and inclusive of the close of nominations. Subject to Article 9.10A.

Interim election procedures apply. Nominations in writing, with written acceptance, may be sent to the Union Hall prior to the August GMM. Nominations may also be made at the Thursday, August 23, 2012 GMM.
The election will be held:

Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
at the Banquet Hall (beside our offices)

The election will take place as part of the normal order of business during the August Membership Meeting as per Article 9.7A of the Local Bylaws.

** Note: You must be a member in good standing to vote.

In Solidarity,

Andy Henderson
Secretary-Treasurer