November 28, 2008
UPCE STRIKE – Day 12
NOVA SCOTIA
The lines remain very strong in Sydney and Antigonish. The Halifax picket line was bolstered today with additional support from Antigonish. UPCE National President Richard DesLauriers joined the picket line in Halifax.
NEW BRUNSWICK
What a wonderful day in New Brunswick!
Saint John – Management has been watching for our picketers since 4 a.m. and can't find any. They've called Moncton and Fredericton and are wondering at what time our picketers will hit the line. After yesterday's fiasco, management was expecting the worst to come today....and at this minute, they are still waiting for our picketers to show up.
Fredericton – Business as usual, the pickets are in place. But we don't know where the Saint John picketers are. We haven't seen them!
Moncton – The picket line is rocking today. The line went up at 10 p.m. last night, much to the amazement of Canada Post management. Members from CAW, CUPE, the CLC and the New Brunswick Federation of Labour came to support our members until past midnight. We had food, coffee, good union music and the weather was cooperating. Lots of members arrived this morning from Fredericton and Saint John (the missing picketers were in Moncton all along) and people were having a good time.
Then all of a sudden, to everyone's amazement, a stretch white limo pulled up in front of the picket line. Members wondered who that might be – a celebrity in Moncton? No rock bands were scheduled to play in Moncton. Well, the door of the limo opened and a “peasant” came out with his blow horn, announcing the arrival of a very special person all the way from her Ivory Tower in Ottawa.
Sure enough, out came Queen Greene, all decked out in her best Marie Antoinette outfit (the wig included). She asked her devoted servants to bow to her and touched them with her wand and promised them Short Terms Disability plans. Then, her servant came with two boxes and the Queen said that with her $300,000 bonus, and the fact that she was so generous, she was giving them STD cakes. The crowd started to boo her and then united to chant "solidarity" as she left in her white carriage.
Now, we all know what happened to Marie Antoinette when she said "Let them eat cake." Queen Greene – it's the guillotine. Stay tuned as this is coming to a video store near you.
ST. JOHN’S
The picket lines went up at 5:45 this morning. We talked to all the letter carriers going to work and the trucks going to the airport.
Management has been threatening our line and the airport truck drivers. They have asked the drivers to wait on the road, which impedes traffic if they are
slowed by the picket line. We were able to convince the drivers to wait in a private lot across the road. No need to call the police as traffic was not being impeded.
MONTREAL
The strikers arrived at 555 McArthur at 8:00 a.m. Members from CUPW and the national director of CUPW, Louis Langlois, came over to encourage them by ensuring that the mail volume inside had decreased considerably. They thanked the UPCE members for their intervention with the mail samplers last Wednesday.
Despite the presence of the police, the picketers succeeded in slowing the traffic. It seems that management was less tolerant today because some senior officials from Ottawa were in Montreal.
The people from Ottawa arrived around 11:00 a.m. Picketing continued until about 2:00 p.m.
QUEBEC CITY
Again today, the picketers talked to all of the truck drivers and the mail carriers who were preparing to take a cab to start their runs. They returned the cabs! Agnès Maltais, MLA for the Parti québécois, visited the members on the line. The spirit of the members was very good.
NCR
Lines are solid. At information meetings yesterday, members confirmed that they want to stay out until a fair settlement is achieved.
A flying squad took a bus this morning and joined their brothers and sisters on the lines at the Ville St-Laurent plant. They brought plastic ponchos and handed them out on the line. This was a great morale booster for both groups. Picketing continues this weekend.
Brother John Edmunds, USGE National President and other PSAC staff memebers visited the line at Alta Vista today and brought a message of support. The burning barrels are proving to be a very useful addition to the picket lines as members are cooking up all kinds of food. Today it was hotdogs!
TORONTO
The lines were up at South Central, Gateway and the UMO at Midland. The lines were supported by members from CEIU and UTE 13 joined the members at South Central.
The lines at Stony Creek were strongly supported by CUPW members.
Two new lines went up in Ajax and Concord.
THUNDER BAY
It’s 6 a.m. and it may be minus four on the outside, but it’s plus 20 on the inside!
The picket line in Thunder Bay went up today for the first time since the strike started on this not-so-bright and early morning at 5:30 a.m.
Although they may be few in numbers (as there are only two UPCE members of Winnipeg Local 50100 who work in here at the mail distribution centre), they are BIG in heart. They were joined on the line by PSAC staff and members and a diverse pack of local labour activists including Canadian Auto Workers Local 1075 President Paul Pugh and Thunder Bay District Labour Council President Melanie Kelso.
These two UPCE members will NEVER be alone! We took strategic action this morning as a count was set to commence. CUPW members are honouring the line, and as they stopped to receive information and offer their support today, traffic began to back up onto the main traffic artery and onto the highway.
Thanks to all of our brothers and sisters who have committed to supporting UPCE members – especially when they are small in numbers and striking in remote locations. Together, we will make sure they can NOT be ignored by Canada Post!
LONDON
Kitchener will be picketing tonight from 5 p.m. till 9 p.m.
London lines were up from 4:30 a.m. till 9 p.m. today. Two flying squads will hit depots in London. We had a demonstration with a BBQ yesterday. Additional picketers from CUPW and from a PSAC local officer’s training course led us in a carnival-like atmosphere. Finally, we received some coverage on the local television news.
Windsor lines were up at 8 a.m. and will stay till the last truck is out.
WINNIPEG
Members in Winnipeg were joined today and yesterday by Robyn Benson, PSAC Regional Executive Vice President for the Prairies, along with the continued support from CUPW members on the line. Managers at Canada Post were out on the line again today offering to help those who may be coming to work next week. We’re looking at picketing over the weekend and have local meetings planned for Monday. Watch for flying squads next week!
SASKATOON
The picketers were boosted by the display of support at the rally yesterday, so spirits are still strong! We are receiving continued support from the truckers going in and out as well as CUPW members. Some PSAC members visited the line today and are encouraging others to do the same.
REGINA
We had a great day today! Local Officer Conference participants came and walked with us for about an hour. The support of our PSAC brothers and sisters raised our morale and helped us make lots of noise. One of our regular trucks sure must have been surprised when he was greeted by 30 picketers, instead of the usual eight. CUPW was once again on the line today – thanks to all. We remain strong!
CALGARY
We had lines up again this morning and will spend the afternoon at the main postal plant. We’re still holding strong with our picketers and the weather is cooperating. Canada Post was very upset that a Priority truck missed the plane on Tuesday and said they can't have this as the "mail must go through." And they say we are having no effect on mail delivery?!?
EDMONTON
Members’ spirits remain high, mostly due to the weather and their own solidarity on the line – not because of Canada Post's growing bag of dirty tricks. We have a picket line protocol now in place but the members are creatively finding ways to work with it. A member brought home made chocolate muffins this morning that were a huge hit. They also enjoyed reading about how international unions are lending their support.
VANCOUVER
Pickets were set up in four locations today: downtown Vancouver, South Burnaby, Port Coquitlam and Surrey. In Port Coquitlam, all of the letter carriers came out and walked with us. In Surrey, the truck drivers stopped and talked with us before they departed.
Even though the rain has been heavy, spirits are high, buoyed by the 350 BC trade unionists that rallied in downtown Vancouver in support of our strike. Music, songs and speeches were delivered. Sharon Tieman started by thanking all for their solidarity in their support for the UPCE members that are on strike. PSAC REVP Kay Sinclair lifted everyone spirits with her message that we will win this battle with Canada Post. That was followed by Bill Saunders, President of the Vancouver District Labour Council, reminding us all that an injury to one is a injury to all.
Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour, was next to speak and told of the corporate agenda and the assault on collective bargaining and the fight to maintain our benefits. He said that to push them back we must all stand together and hold our elected officials accountable for Canada Post’s drive to deregulate.
The B.C. Federation of Labour unanimously passed a resolution calling for Canada Post to get back to the bargaining table and drop their concession bargaining position.
Once again the rain falling, but seems to be warmer these days. It may be that we all know we are walking the picket line knowing our sisters and brothers across the country are supporting us in many ways.
VICTORIA
Members spent a number of hours calling the Canada Post’s 1-800 numbers. We also picketed a Canada Post retail outlet. CUPW continues to provide strong support.
Date Modified : 2010/07/29
