Dissenting union executives urge Canada Post workers to reject tentative deals
· Toronto Sun
The tentative agreements presented to Canada Post employees “abandon” the original demands unanimously endorsed by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ national executive board, dissenting officials said as they called for their membership to reject the “inferior” deals.
While most of the executive board representing the Urban Postal Operations and Rural and Suburban Mail Carrier units ended up recommending the tentative deals presented by Canada Post in December, executives including national president Jan Simpson voiced their opposition in a newsletter published Tuesday .
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“These agreements are a huge victory for the employer; the tentative agreements contain major changes, concessions and rollbacks,” a minority report signed by Simpson and four other executive board members said. “We get a raise that still pays us less than the other major carriers and only some of the rights we were already entitled to under the Canada Labour Code.”
About 60% of the board is recommending the union’s 55,000 members vote in favour of the agreements when they cast their ballot this spring, saying it is the “best collective agreements” they can achieve.
Voting is scheduled from April 20 to May 30, the union said.
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Wage increase, key rights protected
The tentative agreements include a five-year contract and wage increases of 6.5% and 3% in the first two years. It also protects key rights like job security and the union’s defined benefit pension plan.
Canada Post and the union have fought over wages and foundational changes to the postal service for more than two years with workers picketing on multiple occasions throughout the bargaining process.
Both sides have agreed not to engage in any strike or lockout activity while the ratification votes take place; however, a vote is taking place alongside the ratification process to authorize a strike mandate in the event the contract is rejected.
While most union executives recommended the tentative agreements, they are also urging members to vote yes to a strike mandate to “maintain our bargaining leverage.”
The Crown corporation has recorded more than $5 billion in losses since 2018, faced with a significant reduction in letter mail and growing competition for package delivery.
— With files from The Canadian Press.