Letter from REVP Jack Bourassa to PM Trudeau in support of postal workers

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:

Re: Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers

I write today on behalf of the Public Service Alliance of Canada North Region and our 13,000 members in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Despite the fact that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) had stated that they were to continue negotiations and would like to reach a fair negotiated agreement, Canada Post management threatens to lock union members out as early as Monday July 11th and refuses to bargain in a meaningful way.

These actions indicate that the current management at the Crown Corporation has no interest in resolving matters with CUPW. Furthermore, a lockout would constitute a direct union busting activity, since a large percent of their current business will be directed to Purolator, a company owned by Canada Post yet not subject to lock out.

I call upon you to use your authority as Prime Minister to remove Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra from his position, and to direct Canada Post to negotiate fairly with CUPW.

The heart of this dispute lies in CUPW members’ desire for gender equity in pay and benefits and their fight against a two-tiered pension that would see younger members get substantially less than their older co-workers.

Given your government’s commitment to equality and to good-quality jobs for young Canadians, I also call upon you to direct Canada Post to implement pay equity throughout their workforce, and to drop concessionary demands that would lead to a two-tier pension system.

In a pre-election open letter to Canada’s public servants, you wrote of respect for public servants, of the value of a strong public service, and of the important role unions play in middle class prosperity.

Now is the time to show Canadians that you meant those things.

Put an end to this dispute by removing Deepak Chopra as CEO of Canada Post and tell Canada Post to present CUPW with a fair offer at the bargaining table.

Sincerely,

Jack Bourassa

Regional Executive Vice President, Public Service Alliance of Canada, North Region

CC:      Mike Palacek, National President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers

            Tim Armstrong, National Director, CUPW Pacific Region

            Hon. Judy Foote, Minister of Public Service and Procurement

            Hon. Rona Ambrose, Leader of the Official Opposition

            Hon. Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the NDP

            PSAC National Board of Directors