Thursday September 26 2024
2023-2027/135
The public post office distributes government cheques that are a vital part of the social safety net. We do not want pensioners and people who rely on government assistance to suffer if the Union is locked out or forced to strike. The most vulnerable members of our society should not be caught in the crosshairs of our contract dispute with Canada Post. In addition, we want to make sure that live animals are not trapped in the mail system during a work disruption.
As we have done in past rounds of bargaining, CUPW has negotiated two agreements with Canada Post to ensure the delivery of many government cheques and the safety of live animals in the event of a lockout or strike. One agreement covers Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) members and the other is for Urban Operations members.
Highlights of the agreements:
Up to two national days of delivery each month.
Locals would recruit volunteers as required.
Volunteers will receive a $50.00 honorarium, as they have done during other strikes and lockouts. Legal experts have advised us that the honorarium may be necessary to protect members who file workers’ compensation claims.
RSMC volunteers will also receive 52 cents per kilometer driven.
The agreements are similar to those we signed in 1997, 2011, 2016 and 2018 and the one negotiated, but not used in 2003. In 2016, we added the provision relating to live animals.
Members who sort or deliver cheques while their local is locked out or on strike will be able to use these days to qualify for strike pay.
If these agreements are triggered due to a lockout or strike, please consider donating any honorarium received to charity. We are providing this service to those in need despite the work disruption because it is the right thing to do. We do not do it for the money.
In Solidarity,
Jan Simpson
National President