For immediate release January 16, 2002
Strike at Canada Post
OTTAWA - Despite last ditch efforts by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) bargaining team to reach a new collective agreement with the Canada Post Corporation, some 2,800 workers are launching rotating strike action this morning all over the country.
However, the PSAC remains at the bargaining table and is ready to continue negotiations in order for this strike to be as short as possible.
"We have done everything possible to avoid a labour dispute which will be very costly to Canada Post in loss of income" indicated Luc Guevremont, President of the PSAC Union of Postal Communication Employees (UPCE). "However, we had no other choice, because Canada Post management insists on treating our members as second class workers. It is the practice of this employer to offer our members working conditions which are inferior to those of thousands of other workers within the Corporation. We asked Canada Post why such a discriminatory attitude was adopted when two-thirds of our membership is made up of women. Their silence said it all," added Guevremont.
The PSAC bargaining team has therefore called upon members to undertake rotating strike action as of this morning, starting in Winnipeg, affecting the Corporation’s administrative operations. Other regions or strategic areas of the Corporation will be affected over the next few days in an effort to force Canada Post management to improve their contractual offer.
"The negotiations held on January 14 and 15 with the assistance of a mediator helped the parties to make some progress, but it is not enough," added Guevremont. "Canada Post's offer doesn't address major issues for our membership such as job evaluation and parental and maternity leave allowances. The employer insists on imposing a job evaluation plan that will freeze 10% of our members at their current salary level, workers who are among the lowest paid within the Corporation. In addition, this job evaluation plan will force workers to wait up to ten years before they reach their maximum level. Finally, the employer wants to be able to unilaterally determine the criteria of this plan, without union approval, and to devalue positions by imposing a starting salary that will be lower than the current level."
"Canada Post has to understand that our members refuse to be treated like this and this is why they are picketing in Winnipeg. We are ready to settle and are staying at the bargaining table, but Canada Post must understand that we want a fair and equitable agreement. The Corporation has to recognize the value of our members' work and improve their offer accordingly," concluded Guevremont.
The some 2,800 PSAC members at the Canada Post Corporation have been in a legal strike position since January 10. The members voted 70% in favour of the strike on November 26. PSAC members at Canada Post provide customer service and perform administrative, financial, technical and professional duties. Their collective agreement expired on October 30, 2001.
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Information :
Luc Guevremont, National President, UPCE - (613) 560-4342
Pierre Lebel, Communications Officer, PSAC - (613)560-5482
01-160102