December 15, 2008
UPCE STRIKE – Day 29
NOVA SCOTIA
UPCE members maintained the element of surprise in Nova Scotia today. Picket lines went up in Sydney at 5:00 a.m. with an immediate shut down of all operations. No one was allowed in or out of the main processing plant. The shut down was maintained for over six hours. This was to deliver a clear message to the employer. What a victory!
UPCE members in Dartmouth were joined by fellow PSAC members, affiliate union members and Brother Rick Clarke, President of the NS Federation of Labour, as they too brought operations to a halt commencing at 6:00 a.m. The shut down lasted the entire morning and into the afternoon until the police came to release the lines. Again, UPCE members claimed victory. Picket lines were also maintained with the usual protocol in Halifax.
UPCE members in Antigonish held strong picket lines today and in keeping with maintaining the element of surprise, they sent a group of members to Truro to hold picket lines at the Distribution Plant. Nova Scotia UPCE members claimed success across the province!
NEW BRUNSWICK
Fredericton – We heard from CUPW that Canada Post management in Fredericton has tried on two occasions to get an injunction but were refused. Morale is good despite the freezing rain again this morning.
Moncton – Our lone picketer is waiting for her rescue team from Fredericton that is held up due to freezing rain. They're on their way!!!!
Saint John – By 10:00 a.m., the police had been at the picket line three times. Our picketers were on the line an hour earlier today as they have heard that CUPW members were told to show up for work an hour earlier. So surprise, surprise – our members were there waiting for them with great big smiles on. The first police car arrived shortly afterwards.
ST. JOHN'S
Picket lines went up at 7:30 this morning. We also had a meeting with Iris Petten, a member of Canada Post board of directors. The meeting went as well as it could have. We had a lengthy conversation and provided her with information. She promised to pass our concerns on to her colleagues at Canada Post. Picket lines came down at 10:30 a.m. We then completed another 2,000 post cards to be placed in the mail stream.
MONTREAL
We plan to tackle the plant at 555 McArthur tonight. Our intent is to slow down the incoming and outgoing Canada Post trucks. Will have more details in tomorrow's bulletin.
QUÉBEC CITY
Despite the fact that members in Quebec have accepted the offer, and despite the heavy rains, they were back early this morning on the picket lines. Four letter carrier depots were hit: Charlesbourg, Joly, Ancienne-Lorette and Beauport. The last truck was delayed for more than 50 minutes! We did good work!
NCR
The lines are up and well populated today. Spirits are high and everyone is pleased with the result of the vote on the employer's final offer.
In response to Canada Post's attempt to communicate directly with the membership over the weekend, lines were hardened at the Plant this morning until 10:30, when we reverted to the regular protocol. Spirits are high at the call centre as well. Members who had been staying home and other members who had crossed have returned to the line.
Again – Ottawa members want to tell the employer, please quit trying to talk to us directly. It is our negotiating team that you have to be speaking with.
TORONTO
Spirits are high in Toronto – Lines are up at South Central, Gateway, UMO, and Stony Creek. Flying squads are at Malton, Kennedy and Eglinton, Yonge and Front, Downsview and Don Mills.
The Hamilton and London flying squads are at Ancaster, Burlington and Hamilton - 1171 Upper James St.
Canada Post is violating protocols at most locations. CUPW local executives and members are supporting the picket lines during breaks and at the end of shifts.
Treasury Board locals continue to write to Minister Baird and send messages and donations to the two UPCE locals in Hamilton and Toronto.
LONDON
Lines are up in Windsor, London and Kitchener. We went in just after 10:30 p.m. to catch the night shift going in. It was a nice night – if you're a duck! We had a great surprise visitor who brought us a gift certificate for much-needed hot chocolate. We had "in house" security drive through our lines. Management and Canada Post security were all over it and made the guy come and apologize. They made him leave the parking lot and re-enter it correctly, and we heard a little while later that he would not be back.
WINNIPEG
Spirits are extremely high today after last night's ratification vote. Members had their commitment reconfirmed through Negotiator Erna Post's accounts of Canada Post's actions at the table. Many UPCE members attended the CUPW “Rock the Post" event last night after our vote. CUPW presented some funds collected by their members that will assist the local in providing refreshments in the strike headquarters.
Thanks to Canada Post for their shoddy maintenance of the equipment. One out of the three vehicle's bay doors at the MPP in Winnipeg was not operational this morning so that meant one less door to block! Picketers are working in teams for shorter picketing times today as wind chill hits minus 46. Even with the extreme weather conditions, you cannot pull them off the line!
This is the perfect day to demonstrate the membership's strong will, as more mail moves the week before Christmas than any time throughout the year. UPCE members are absolutely united. We're standing together against Canada Post to fight for a contract that protects the rights of the workers on the line.
SASKATOON
Our UPCE women in Saskatoon have taken today to volunteer at the Salvation Army. The temperature at the line today is minus 32 and with the wind chill it's minus 43. These women haven't missed a day stopping the mail since the start of the strike so have decided, because of the wind chill, this would be a good day to show solidarity at a place of need. The Saskatoon strikers are very strong in this struggle against the employer and are determined to stay out as long as necessary.
REGINA
It's minus 45 here in Regina today so members were busy writing postcards and letters from the regional office. We are strategizing for the week as the cold freeze is expected to last. Members are happy with vote results and had a chuckle thinking Canada Post management is probably thinking the vote was ratified since were not frozen on the line this morning. We will be back!
CALGARY
It's minus 30, with a wind chill of minus 40, so Calgary picketers worked from home today sending emails to MPs and some members went to malls to circulate petitions and hand out postcards. They plan to be at the main postal plant tomorrow as it is supposed to warm up to minus 15. A couple of picketers did volunteer work for the Salvation Army Xmas Kettle over the weekend and also handed out postcards in the mall.
EDMONTON
UPCE picketers took the day to have a study session. They started the day with a discussion on the weekend's vote results, followed by a talk from bargaining team member Rene Freeden. She spoke about what was happening at the bargaining table. Members also had a lengthy discussion about the employer's proposed short-term disability plan. The rest of the day was taken up by a discussion on how to lobby MPs. Members broke into smaller workshop groups to develop a lobbying plan. We are more committed than ever to this struggle and our spirits remain extremely high.
VANCOUVER
Picket lines were set up at the Main Canada Post Building in downtown Vancouver. Everyone was interested in the results of the vote. No line-crossers were reported and we were on a scab watch from 4:30 this morning. Members are hopeful that Canada Post will get the message that we must see changes to their last "deal.”
VICTORIA
Due to extreme weather conditions, picketers worked the phones today.
Date Modified : 2010/07/29
