Recently, CUPW negotiators and members of the National Executive Board had a half-hour meeting with Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement.
Minister Lightbound finally requested the meeting yesterday to hear the Union’s perspective on the current round of bargaining and the future of the public post office.
We conveyed to Minister Lightbound the need to reach ratifiable collective agreements before the busy holiday season. We noted that since Canada Post lost the forced vote, the Corporation has lost all sense of urgency, choosing instead to abandon negotiations, postal workers, and the public. We don’t know why Canada Post needs another week to prepare new global offers.
We outlined some of the key demands that members need to see in the next collective agreements: liveable wages, better working conditions, full-time jobs, proper staffing, work-life balance, and equality for RSMCs.
We introduced the Minister to some of our ideas to re-imagine the public post office with new revenue-generating services that could bring real benefits to communities across the country, big or small. The Minister refrained from commenting on our ideas and proposals.
We stressed that we are proud of the work we do, but we are concerned about the direction management is steering this important public institution.
We left our first meeting with the Minister uncertain about how he would direct Canada Post. Even though it was clear that both sides understood the value of the public post office. We also agreed it was important to keep the lines of communication between us open.
The Union is waiting for the Corporation to return to the table as soon as possible.
To get the latest union news and information delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for eDigest at www.cupw.ca/en/cupw-edigest.
