Statement from Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress
Ottawa – For years, postal workers have put forward smart, practical ideas to strengthen Canada Post and serve Canadians better. From expanding delivery service, to providing financial services, to ensuring rural and remote communities aren’t left behind.
Instead of building on that vision, the government is going in the opposite direction: announcing sweeping changes to allow Canada Post to end door-to-door delivery and close rural post offices.
If Canada Post finds itself in financial crisis today, it’s thanks to its bloated executives’ poor management and lack of vision, as well as a string of cuts by previous governments. It’s certainly not the fault of Canadians who are about to lose their mail service. Nor is it the fault of hard-working postal workers whose very livelihood is now in jeopardy.
This government was elected to protect our jobs not cut the jobs of over 50,000 postal workers. It was elected on a promise of nation-building projects not a promise of destroying national institutions that make up the fabric of our country.
That this announcement comes in the middle of a difficult round of bargaining with CUPW is of great concern. Ottawa is once again siding with management against workers. The only winner of this announcement is private delivery businesses who are only motivated by profit not service to Canadians.
Canada’s unions will always stand in solidarity with postal workers. Their fight is a fight for the future our public services, our jobs and Canadian institutions that tie this country together.