After months of negotiations, Canada Post has called in the spin doctors. Using carefully crafted scripts, Canada Post is now going to great lengths to convince the public that the Corporation is going broke and cannot afford the cost of the front-line employees who helped Canada Post attain its ongoing financial success.
As always, truth is the first casualty of collective bargaining. Here’s some food for thought…
On Canada Post’s Financial Performance:
Canada Post is not subsidized by the public or the federal government.
Canada Post has recorded 16 straight years of profits. It made $1.7 billion in the last 15 years. It also made profits in 2010 that have yet to be announced.
In 2009, following in the wake of a global economic recession, Canada Post recorded its highest profits ever ($281 million).
In recognition of its 2009 business success, Canada Post issued bonus cheques to each part-time and full-time employee who was on strength in 2009 (temporary employees were given nothing).
While Canada Post has yet to officially disclose its 2010 annual report, bonus cheques were issued to each part-time and full-time employee who was on strength in 2010 (again, temporary employees were given nothing). The cheques were sent out on April 14, 2011.
Canada Post’s Chief Executive Officer and the other members of Canada Post’s executive elite also stand to receive lucrative personal performance bonus payments. For example, Moya Greene received a 33% performance bonus during her term as CEO.
Two months after issuing bonus cheques to its employees for meeting predetermined business targets, Canada Post now claims that it can’t afford us. What’s wrong with this picture?
On Wages:
According to Statistics Canada, the average hourly full-time wage in Canada is $24.72 per hour. Full-time Postal Clerks, Letter Carriers, and Mail Service Couriers currently earn a maximum hourly rate of $24.15 per hour. CUPW members earn an average wage.
In its most recent “final offer”, Canada Post has offered wage increases starting at 1.9% per year. The current annual rate of inflation is 3.3%.
On Mail Volumes
In front of national news media, Canada Post has claimed that lettermail volumes are down 17%.
It is true that lettermail volumes are declining slowly. But CPC’s annual reports confirm that transaction mail volumes are still 7% higher than in 1997.
Despite recent fluctuations, overall mail volumes are approximately 10% higher than 10 years ago.
On Sick Leave:
Canada Post’s Jon Hamilton has publicly claimed that the STD plan is a “superior” sick leave plan. He has yet to mention that Canada Post intends to strip our short-term sick leave wage loss protection from 15 days to 7 days per year.
Please keep informed and support your Union!
In solidarity,
Ken Mooney
Regional Grievance Officer