Canada Post Pay Equity
One year later: Still waiting for pay equity at Canada Post
Letters exchange
- October 10, 2012 - Letter from PSAC National President on Canada Post Pay Equity Settlement
- October 16, 2012 - Letter from PSAC National President to Mr. Chopra
- October 31, 2012 - Letter from M. André Joron to PSAC National President
- November 2, 2012 - Letter from PSAC National President to Mr. Chopra
History
Almost a year to the day since the Supreme Court ordered Canada Post to abide by the Human Rights Tribunal pay equity decision, the Corporation announced on its website that it “understands that employees and retirees who may be eligible for pay equity compensation payments are interested in knowing when they can expect payment”.
This is the first update Canada Post has posted in six months and cold comfort to anyone waiting for a payment.
The PSAC has heard from hundreds of members and retirees over the past year as they have tried, in vain, to contact Canada Post about their pay equity. Back in January, PSAC pushed Canada Post to set up its own website to update members and retirees on the pay equity process. Very little information was provided.
Most recently, Canada Post tried to blame the union for the delay in getting the payments out because the PSAC doesn’t think it is fair or right for Canada Post to keep the interest on 20% of the money it owes you.
But the truth is – Canada Post is not ready to pay. As a Canada Post spokesman recently admitted to the Toronto Star, “Even if we had an agreement today, we wouldn’t be in a position to issue payments this early in the process, just simply because of the amount of work.”
This pay equity complaint was filed by the union in 1983. Canada Post has known about this complaint since 1983. They have had ample time – 30 years, in fact -- to do the necessary work to put the money it owes into the hands of its employees and former employees.
I’m sure many of our Canada Post retirees would echo the sentiments of Betty Campbell, recently interviewed in the Toronto Star. Campbell plans to use her pay equity money to replace her 10-year-old car. “We’re all on fixed incomes. We all have outstanding bills,” Campbell said. “For a lot of retirees, it’s not going to go to luxuries; it’s going to go to necessities.”
PSAC will continue to do whatever it takes to get all the money that is owed.
In solidarity,
Robyn Benson
National President
Date Modified : 2012/11/19
