Friends and comrades,
In this week’s Dispatch, we are covering some negotiations updates (a letter to a Minister Hajdu and a report back about a meeting with Minister Lightbound), socioeconomic cheque delivery, as well as picketing on Thanksgiving and the next round of strike pay cheques.
Before getting to that, the picket pantry is once again up and running at our office (18121 107 Ave NW). Stop by during office hours (9 to 5, Monday to Friday). If you are unsure, please call the office at 780-423-9000 to see if it’s open.
Solidarity,
Kyle Turner, Communications Officer
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Negotiations Update
We have found ourselves in a complicated situation, to say the very least. Our strike continues, but it is important to keep in mind that this strike is not just about the offers we’ve rejected from Canada Post. It is also a strike against the government in order to protect not only the public post office but also our jobs.
This week’s updates reflect that. First, we have a letter from our National President Jan Simpson to Minister Patty Hajdu. In this letter, Jan points out that ongoing government intervention in our bargaining has only served to further delay it. To read that letter, click HERE.
The second update is a report back about Wednesday’s meeting with Minister Lightbound. In this meeting, our representatives talked about the impact his announcement had on our negotiations with the Corporation, as well as the hundreds of supervisor positions that have been added to Canada Post while CUPW positions are constantly being cut. They also shared that they believe the Corporation is using Purolator to “run Canada Post into the ground.”
Our representatives also asked Lightbound to rescind the public service cuts, but at the end of the meeting he said it still stands. However, the Minister did commit to reaching out in a few days. To read that full report, click HERE.
Socioeconomic Cheque Delivery
As we have in the past, our union has once again agreed to deliver socioeconomic cheques. The scheduled date for delivery is October 17th. All route owners (Urban and RSMC) are able to deliver the cheques for their own routes. Relief carriers (Urban and RSMC) will also be required. In the case that you are a relief carrier on a long-term assignment, sign up for the route you are covering. If you are not interested in covering your own route, a relief carrier will be assigned to it.
If you are interested in delivering, please speak to a picket captain and sign up.
Thanksgiving and Strike Pay
Monday, October 13th is a holiday. In Edmonton, the EMPP picket will be maintained. For all other picket lines in Edmonton and the affiliate offices, picketing on Monday will be up to the discretion of the individual picket lines. Please speak to a picket captain to see if the line will be up and to find out what the hours are. Strike pay cheques will be delivered on Tuesday, October 14th. If you did not stay on the picket line and/or you didn’t sign out, you will not be credited for that time. If your writing is not legible, it will also be hard to make sure you are being credited for that time. We are relying on your honesty and the record keeping from picket captains.
Strike cheques will be available on Tuesday, October 14th, at the location you picketed at first unless other arrangements have been made by the Sunday before distribution. If you are in an affiliate office and you didn’t pick up your cheque last week, that cheque will be taken back to the line for delivery.
If you would like to make other arrangements for cheque pickup or if there are any concerns with your strike pay, please email sectreas730@gmail.com with the exact issue, dates, times, and location that you were picketing at and we will try to address the issue. This email address is specific to strike pay issues and will be the only way that strike pay issues can be addressed.
Reminders
- Staying Connected: Sign up for the text service or email list HERE.
- Forever Canadian Petition: To find a location where you can sign this petition, click HERE.
- Special Assessment: The Local’s Special Assessment is suspended for the fiscal year (July 2025-June 2026), but will return in July 2026. So you should see a decrease in dues payments by slightly less than $15/month.
- Disability Supports: To access the Disability Supports portal, which provides a list of programs and services in your community, click HERE.
- Union Savings: To take part in these savings, you can register at unionsavings.ca/.
- Buy Union: Looking for a list of union-made goods and services? Click HERE.