Canada Post logo.  (Photo by Adelle Loiselle)Canada Post logo. (Photo by Adelle Loiselle)
Chatham

CUPW says Canada Post's latest offer doesn't deliver

The union representing postal workers said Canada Post’s latest offer is not good enough.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said there is some movement but major issues remain up in the air.

Canada Post presented CUPW with what it calls a “time-limited” offer on Wednesday for both urban, rural and suburban mail carriers to put an end to rotating strikes and get postal workers back to work.

“These offers are a step in the right direction, however, both the Urban and RSMC offers do not seriously address the major issues of our members – health and safety, equality and creating more full-time jobs and less precarious work,” said CUPW National President Mike Palecek. “These offers simply aren’t good enough, but we remain at the bargaining table and will continue to negotiate with Canada Post.”

The union added that Canada Post is facing a serious injury crisis as its employees are the most injured group of all federal workers, with an injury rate 5.4 times higher than the average of the federal sector. CUPW said the crown corporation proposed a combined fund for both units of $10 million to help them become a “model organization in safety,” but Canada Post already has an obligation under the Canada Labour Code to provide health and safety for its employees.

“Canada Post wants to send our health and safety issues to a committee. We all know what that means. It means they will do nothing. We already have joint health and safety committees and management hasn't addressed these issues there, so why would this be any different?” said Palecek. “We already know that the root cause of the high injury is the changes in the work process imposed by Canada Post over the last 10 years, and we have presented real solutions, which Canada Post does not address in their offers.”

Mail carriers working in Amherstburg walked off the job on Thursday to back contract demands, as negotiations and rotating strikes continue.

“We understand that our customers are frustrated; we are also frustrated. Postal workers are hardworking, caring people who take great pride in serving the public. But we cannot go back to work at the busiest time of the year without fixing the issues that keep us injured and overworked,” said Palecek.

Canada Post's new offer proposed pay increases to 2 per cent per year for all employees, and has a signing bonus of up to $1,000 to ensure a deal can be reached to deliver for the holidays.

Canada Post said the offer must be accepted by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.

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