OTTAWA, July 5, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada Post has just served notice on fifty thousand Canadian workers that it plans to drive them out onto the streets without pay in an effort to impose steep concessions on them.
"We knew this was their game all along. They are sabotaging the public review of the post office. They refused to negotiate fairly with us and now they 're locking the doors and will try to starve us into submission," said Mike Palecek, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
The union has been attempting to negotiate pay equity for its female-dominated workforce of rural carriers and stave off the profitable Crown Corporation's demands for massive rollbacks. Canada Post has tabled just one offer since negotiations began and is now shutting down Canadians' postal service across the country.
"This is brought to you by the people who wanted to take away home delivery," said Palecek.
"They wanted us to sell out the next generation of Canadian postal workers for a quick deal, but we stood firm. Now they're going to hold the public hostage until they get what they want."
Canada Post locked postal workers out in 2011 until the Conservatives forced them back to work with legislation that has since been ruled unconstitutional. It remains to be seen what the Liberal government will do about this situation and rogue Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra, who refused a Liberal request to resign.
"We will not be bullied by a corporation that is supposed to be providing people with public service, that is raking in millions in profits every year, and that is willfully and needlessly waging war upon tens of thousands of workers and their families," said Palecek.
The CUPW will hold a media conference today at 10 am EST at 377 Bank Street, Ottawa.
SOURCE Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Aalya Ahmad, 613-327-1177, or by email at [email protected]
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