Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are writing to let you know that the federal NDP Caucus stands in full solidarity with the Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE) Component of PSAC in your dispute with Canada Post.
This strike is clearly about more than money. It's about Canada Post trying to impose an unfair short-term disability plan on UPCE members – a plan that would offload the employer's responsibilities onto the Employment Insurance program. And it's about Canada Post trying to claw back hard-won sick leave benefits. Generations of workers fought hard to win security in the event of illness and injury, and we know UPCE members will fight hard to protect these gains.
It is not coincidental that these demands for concessions from workers are happening at the same time as the Strategic Review of Canada Post Corporation. In the context of deregulation and potential privatization, Canada Post is trying to position itself for a “race to the bottom” in wage and benefit costs with potential private sector competitors.
Deregulation and privatization will drive Canada Post to cut costs wherever it can, which represents a threat not only to postal workers, but to the very principal of affordable, universal postal service in Canada.
Rest assured, the NDP will support UPCE's struggle for fairness, and we'll keep up the fight in Parliament against deregulation and privatization at Canada Post.
In Solidarity,
Libby Davies MP (Vancouver East)
Deputy Leader of the NDP
Chris Charlton MP (Hamilton Mountain)
NDP Labour Critic
Dave Christoferson MP (Hamilton Centre)
NDP Critic for Canada Post
Date Modified : 2010/07/29
