Over the last 18 months, we’ve faced some of the biggest challenges of our lives. As the world slowly begins to reopen post-COVID-19, it’s important to remember that the pandemic isn’t over yet, and that so much remains uncertain.
You deserve some stability in these unpredictable times, and the confidence that your job is secure today, and in the future. When Canada Post approached us about extending the collective agreements for the Urban Operations Unit and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers, the National Executive Board knew it had a responsibility to take a look at what we could accomplish to help members now.
The tentative collective agreement extensions address important issues for all RSMCs and Urban postal workers. No one can predict what the economic situation will be in 2022. Will CPC once again be profitable? Will it continue to lose millions of dollars? We cannot say for certain. But with these tentative agreements, we do know you will have guaranteed wage increases, improved job security, as well as stability and progress during uncertain times.
Just as important is the inclusion of financial services. For over a decade, CUPW has advocated for the return of postal banking. We’ve argued that expanded postal banking services will not only extend financial services to millions of people that have been excluded by the traditional banks, but it will also help to ensure that our retail outlets are viable and secure in the long term. Canada Post didn’t suddenly decide to revisit postal banking.
Make no mistake – the inclusion of financial services in these agreements is a direct result of your hard work over the years to increase social and political pressure to invest in postal banking.
We know you are strong and passionate. But you’re also smart and strategic. Not only are there no concessions in these agreements, but voting in favour will give us two extra years to build our collective power for the next round of bargaining.
This method may seem unorthodox, but we’ve been here before. On three other occasions (1992, 1999, and 2012), after being legislated back to work, we reached collective agreements with CPC that extended the time frame provided in the legislation.
What is different this time around is that for the first time since 1995 – 26 years – the National Executive Board voted unanimously to recommend that our membership vote in favour of these agreements.
In solidarity,
CUPW National Executive Board