Last week’s wildcat strike by St. Albert postal workers might have been a preview of things to come.
A whopping 94.5 per cent of Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) across the country voted this week in favour of striking if they do not reach a desirable collective agreement with Canada Post.
The 15 rural and suburban mail carriers that walked out on the job last week could be back on the picket lines as early as midnight May 25 along with many, many others. And this time it would be lawful.
Last week’s strike was classified as an illegal work stoppage by Canada Post. The workers were ultimately ordered back to work by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.
The job action came because of letters sent out announcing a cut in packages counts, which allegedly would have significantly affected the workers’ annual pay.
This official strike vote is over a broader issue with ramifications for all unionized Canada Post employees.
Jon Hamilton, an Ottawa spokesperson for Canada Post, said the company is proposing annual wage increases, secure pensions and continued job security along with the introduction of a new sick-leave program and different terms and conditions for the employees they hire in the future.
He said some of this has already been implemented for employees outside the CUPW.
“We think we’ve put forward proposals that are fair and reasonable considering the fact that letter mail volumes continue to drop and revenue continues to drop,” said Hamilton.
Bev Ray, president of CUPW Edmonton local, is of a different mind.
“They want to change our sick-leave benefits — it would be a reduced, short-term disability program they’re trying to implement. And they are trying to introduce two-tiered staffing,” she said. “New employees would start for a much lower rate than they currently do … and for new employees, rights and benefits would be dramatically reduced.”
Ray could not offer hard numbers but said she is confident the vast majority of her local have voted in favour of the strike.
The hope is the vote will put pressure on Canada Post to compromise.
Hamilton said this strike vote was a part of the bargaining process. It will be business as usual until May 25.
“If you look back at the history for negotiations with Canada Post, there have been positive strike mandates like this in the past that have never led to a work stoppage,” he said. “This has happened before [and] it is not a guarantee that it will lead to a work stoppage.”
But Hamilton noted this is a vote Canada Post took seriously. He said it is clear there is work to be done at the negotiating table.
Ray agreed.
“There’s a lot of work Canada Post needs to do.”
There was also a meeting planned this week between CUPW, acting on behalf of the St. Albert workers, and Canada Post to discuss the underlying issues of that walkout and any potential consequences for the workers.
