MoveUP Supports Locked-Out CUPW Workers

June 15, 2011

Today MoveUP President David Black and Executive Board Members Melanie Greenlaw and Georgi Bates stood in solidarity with locked-out CUPW members at the North Burnaby Canada Post distribution centre.

“We’re standing with you,” said Black, “CUPW members are fighting for our public services and good jobs for our communities. These are things that are important to all of us at COPE and in the labour movement.”

After just over a week of rotating strikes by CUPW, Canada Post decided to lock out its employees, going back on its responsibility to the public to deliver mail that has been paid for. They claim the job action has cost them but Canada Post has enjoyed good profits for 14 years and has not cost taxpayers a dime. In addition, they have refused CUPW’s recent offer to return to work and the bargaining table as long as the previous contract is allowed to stand until a new one is reached.

CUPW committed to deliver pension and social assistance cheques and they intend to fulfill that commitment if Canada Post allows them. They have asked for a public commitment from Canada Post that they will be allowed to do so.

CUPW has been attempting to negotiate with Canada Post but several crucial issues remain to be resolved, including:

• Employer proposals for two tiered wages and pension benefits to apply to new employees
• Elimination of the sick leave plan
• Workplace health and safety
• Service to the public as a result of “modernization” of postal services

MoveUP stands with our brothers and sisters in CUPW and we are encouraging our members to support postal workers by not using Canada Post services until there is a fair settlement, and by supporting CUPW picket lines in your community.

MoveUP is encouraging members to help out on picket lines in their communities and send messages of support to striking workers. It’s important to show our support for CUPW and their fight to keep our public postal service strong for our communities. For a list of picketing locations in BC, go to: http://www.cupwpacific.org/picket_locations.html . For information on actions in other regions, visit http://www.cupw.ca.