“What is the cost of lies? It’s not that we’ll mistake them for the truth. The real danger is that if we hear enough lies, then we no longer recognize the truth at all.” -Valery Legasov
Much like my favorite soap operas, Canada Posts seems to recycle the same story lines over and over again. Instead of having a surprise twin sister, like in my stories, Canada Post is back to “the union agreed to this”. I can definitively say, in my 14 years with the Corps this has happened less times than I have fingers. There is not a lot that we agree on. An example would be the infamous breaks on shift 3. Except for the dark days of COVID 19, when it was health and safety related, the Local has NEVER agreed to split breaks. In fact, we have been trying to fight them from day 1 of the conception of the PPC. We have also NEVER agreed to the 21:00 break in ground. We have filed numerous grievances and will continue to, unless Canada Post can produce the “binding arbitration” ruling they claim to have.
Then there’s management’s claim that they have consulted the union. This is much like someone who “died” on soap operas coming back from the dead. There is often a kernel of truth to this. There is a good chance we did consult. But there is little chance we agreed with it. Consultation only means that they have to sit down with CUPW and have “meaningful discussion”. And to that, our ideas of meaningful discussion vary. CUPW hopes to be collaborative, but often Canada Post just wants to push their proposal as is without changes. In my years being involved in consultations, I cannot remember 1 where we left in complete agreement with Canada Posts proposal.
These are just a few examples on how management manipulates the truth so they can turn those on the floor against the local. Just ask yourself “why would CUPW agree to this?” If you can’t find a reason, we likely didn’t. If you are ever in doubt reach out to you Executive Shop Steward or myself at the Hall and we will happily dispel any lies management is spreading.
In Solidarity,
Bryan Schuck, 3rd Vice President