Urban Negotiations Begin: Parties Present Demands
CUPW: Respect, Equality and Sharing the Benefits
The union’s approach was clear and straightforward. We provided the employer with copies of the tabloid that contains the exact wording of the 99 demands that have been ratified with a vote of 96%. Our presentation briefly described the demands which are broken down under the themes of job security, wages and benefits, human rights and equality, union recognition and representation, health and safety, staffing, schedules and assignments, and work methods. We highlighted the three general principles which provide the foundation of our approach.
Respect: Postal workers have been responsible for the success of Canada Post. We deserve to maintain and improve our rights and benefits and to have healthy and safe working conditions.
Equality: All full-time, part-time and temporary employees perform essentially the same work and deserve to be treated equally.
Sharing the Benefits: Postal workers and the public deserve to share in the benefits which result from the $2 billion modernization program.
CPC: Rollbacks and Threats of More Rollbacks
CPC has provided a list of proposals which contain some clearly worded rollbacks and many vaguely worded proposals that will certainly turn out to be demands for concessions. The also stated that if the parties are unable to reach an agreement, they reserved the right to put more concessionary demands on the table in the future.
Management’s proposals included the following:
- Restrictions on night recovery leave.
- Eliminate 7th week of vacation leave for all employees with less than 28 years of service.
- Introduce a short-term disability program instead of sick leave.
- Change the staffing, annual leave bidding and calculation of relief in letter carrier depots.
- Have some maintenance functions now done by Group 3 performed by postal clerks.
- Introduce changes in the grievance and arbitration procedures.
- Change the sizes and delivery spans for householders.
- Future regular employees, (including current temporary employees) to be covered by different post retirement benefits, leave provisions and job security than current regular employees. They would not be eligible for the defined benefits pension plan and would instead have a defined contribution plan and a lower starting pay rate.
- And many more…
We Will Not Be Distracted
Following management’s presentation, the union replied to management and stated that we have a clear mandate to negotiate on the basis of our three general principles of Respect, Equality and Sharing the Benefits.
During the next weeks and months, your National Negotiating Committee will work long hours to convince Canada Post management that the best way to secure the future of our public postal service is to negotiate a contract that meets the needs of postal workers and expends services to the public. But we need the support of every member to help us convince management.
You can participate by taking every possible opportunity to tell management that postal workers deserve improvements instead of rollbacks. Participate in the Days of Action. Read the bulletins and fact sheets. Go to union meetings.
It’s our contract and it’s our future.
In Solidarity,
Denis Lemelin
National President and Chief Negotiator.