Updated: Mon Nov. 17 2008 18:25:16

CTV.ca News Staff

Canada Post administrative and technical workers are on strike Monday after rejecting a final offer from their employer late last week.

Some of the first picket lines went up in Halifax, Antigonish and Sydney, N.S., and in Fredericton and Saint John, N.B. and St. John's, N.L.

The federal postal service maintains mail delivery will not be affected by the walkout of the 2,140 employees, the majority of which are based in Ontario.

Canada Post spokesperson John Caines said the striking workers represent about five per cent of the people working for the post office.

Caines told CTV.ca that the province-by-province breakdown of the striking workers is as follows:

• 263 in the four Atlantic provinces
• 264 in Quebec
• 1,224 in Ontario
• 132 in Manitoba
• 16 in Saskatchewan
• 115 in Alberta
• 124 in B.C.
• Two workers in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon

The striking administrative and support workers are part of the Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE), Caines said, while the people who sort and deliver mail for Canada Post are part of a separate union called the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

The details of disability and family-leave benefits in the proposed four-year contract are the main points of contention for the UPCE.

UPCE president Richard Des Lauriers told The Canadian Press that Canada Post has put forward a short-term disability plan that would replace current sick-leave credits and family-related leave provisions "that we've had for over 10 years."

Though Canada Post says mail delivery won't be affected, Des Lauriers suggested it will be eventually.

"We are planning to slow down the mail delivery and put pressure on the employers to return to the table with a decent offer to end this quickly," he told CP from the picket line at Canada Post headquarters in Ottawa.

In a statement, the federal corporation said its offer is rooted in the goals of maintaining the viability of Canada Post and preserving good jobs.

"Consistent with that theme, we believe this is a generous offer, given the current economic climate, that we hope will achieve a new collective agreement that meets the needs of both the employees and the company."

The proposal described by Canada Post as its "final offer" to the union included income protection for all employees, plus a 2.5 per cent salary increase in the first two years of the contract, and a further 2.75 per cent in the final two years.

Here are some further details of the four-year contract offer, as released by Canada Post:

• Job security for all indeterminate employees on strength at the time of contract signing.
• Premiums for night shift and weekend shifts will be increased from $1.15 to $1.40, and evening shift premiums will increase from $0.95 to $1.15.
• Special Leave to be used for urgent family situations, similar to that now available to other bargaining units.
• This is in addition to the seven personal days under the Short Term Disability Program.
• Retention of seven weeks for holidays after 28 years service for all employees at the time of contract signing.

As of mid-afternoon on Monday, Caines told CTV.ca that Canada Post had not yet received a response from the union.

Des Lauriers spoke to CTV.ca on Monday evening and said that he could not comment on the offer from Canada Post because he had not personally seen it yet.

The bargaining is being handled by UPEC's parent union, he said, the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

Des Lauriers said he expects that UPEC will meet with PSAC on Monday night to discuss the offer from Canada Post.

Comments are now closed for this story

Brian Irving/ calgary
These are not letter carriers but tech staff. They do what most IT people do in most companies. Letter carriers walk in - 30 below weather to deliver mail. Bad mail service can be blamed on Contract workers hired by Canada Post to do a cheap job. You pay in the end for the crap workers hired. Full Canada Post employees do the best with what the corporation gives them. Money never makes up for injuries and wear and tear.

Christine in the Peg.
To all the striking workers who I know work hard and deserve a decent wage and benefits:

There are a lot of us that support you! I hope you get a fair settlement and can be back at work soon.

Kathy
I for one, don't feel I have enough information on their benefits plan to judge it at all. I do know, how important compassionate leaves are. If they are cutting back on that, it seems to me that the employer is the one at fault here, not the striking workers.

Bruce
The "posties" you people are thinking of have a contract till 2011, and have never gone on strike at Christmas. They are also the same people that stood and fought for the first "Maternity leave" benefits that soon resulted in such a benefit for all (not bad for a bunch of workers).
Salting decent paying jobs in every city and town can only be a good thing. It seems the comments on this page beg for a "race to the bottom" plan.
Yes, as a Letter Carrier in Nelson, I do better the a Wal-Mart employee, but my paycheck is still less than my rent.
I'm sorry if CEO profit begs us all to work for 3rd world wages.

Acroyear
"25 years as a front line worker at Canada Post
Wow the anger and outrage people are venting here today. Imagine working in a place where you have no control over policy yet have to listen to this anger and outrage directed at you everyday, all day. And you can not rectify the situation. Welcome to the front line work - mailman and counter people of Canada Post, encounter everyday at their workplace."

Welcome to every single service job on the planet earth...cry me a freaking river! You think that just because the poor dude at Staples or Zellers doesn't walk in the cold he doesn't get any less abuse from the public?

"Walk a mile in someone's shoes before you are quick to pass judgement. It is only fair."

THIS is the attitude that is getting you condemned. Btw, I get freaking rural delivery so I DO have to walk approx. a mile to get my BLANKY BLANK mail.

I don't give a fig who is to blame, the service from Canada Post compared to the US Postal Service or The Royal Mail sucks...period. So yeah, I'm not exactly dripping with warm feelings towards the reasons for this strike when I have zero job security and have a grand total of 12 sick and family emergency days a year.

Oh, and as for the "then join a union" comments...get real! In THIS economy?! Any one of us could be replaced with the snap of your bosses fingers, and he/she knows it, so yeah....unionizing right now would be such a smart response to the hard economic times.

What world do these people come from? Oh...right, insular world of the crown corp...forgot.

James Kelowna
I agree with those who support unions. Without them we would have living & working conditions like those in 3rd world countries where the employer takes advantage of their workers, why do you think they still have such poor working conditions... mmmmm, don't see any unions in those countries. As for those wanting CP to go private, do you really want to pay more? Privatizing puts the emphasis on the bottom line, which means a price increase for a reduction in services & not even providing services in small remote towns. To ship a 5kg parcel from Kelowna to Peace River via CP 2 day service (Express Post) is $33.24, the same service from FedEx is $92.49 (Purolator is $37.72). I hope you can see the math and where privatization would lead us! Don't forget if you're not home to accept the pkg, you would have to go to a central depot that most likely is not close to your home, unlike the current retail outlets where your CP delivery person so conveniently dropped off your pkg for easy p/u.
Unions have helped raise the standard of living over the years for Canadians, without them, we'd all be working 3 jobs with zero benefits, just to make ends meet. Don't be so jealous.

Kellie
WOW, all of you people who think we do nothing at all at Canada Post really have no idea do you?...If you read this article in full you will see that this in fact not disrupting the mail service to your door or office. Maybe eventually but can you see into the future? to be passing judgement so fast?
I work for Canda Post sure we make a good wage sure we have benefits. But really so do alot of others, probably including yourself. You know everyone is quick to judge the post office and our union without even being involved. If you order a special service via Canada Post you receive that service. eg.Priority, express. We deliver parcels from all over the world from your loved ones to your doorstep or yes, superboxes.
Canada Post has great employees great supervisors and great management. The general public has the wrong idea about Canada Post and really until you are in our shoes or have done our jobs (because our jobs are not easy at all) please stop passing judgement on the Service that is offered to you. The strike is happening and it really only affects approx 2200 employees in total of Canada. So the mail will keep flowing and remember your mail carrier, parcel delivery couriers and inside workers do go the extra mile to get your loved ones parcels/letters delivered to you.
Merry Christmas all....

Mr Chillz
Stop blaming the letter carriers and read the article carefully,...It's the administrative and technical workers that are on strike.

As a mailman in Toronto, I'm sickened by the comments people are quick to make about the letter carriers. 99.9% of the bloggers on here wouldn't last a week doing my job.

Trust me, I earn my wages delivering the mail. Walk a mile in someone else's shoes before you judge, folks.

Anne
Why is everyone missing the point here?

These Canada Post workers - Clerical/Adminstrative - mostly female are only fighting to keep what they have.

They are not interested in Concessions.

They don't want an employer who made millions and millions of dollars profit - yes non unionized people, your money too - taking away something that was already fought for.

It is like our provincial government deciding to make the minimum wage less again. Same thing. Nobody would want that.

And these postal workers don't want to give up what they are entitled too.

Seems like something I would fight for.

Go folks, Go. You do deserve it.

Scott ONT
we're footing the bill regardless, what are you talking about?

"Diogenes
As someone affected by this strike I have to say that the number of belicose replies to this topic is a little off-putting.

But I have to say that despite these comments, whether informed or uninformed, that people have to understand that this comes down to the principle of fairness. Canada Post's management has refused to negotiate on the point of personal leave and Sick Days. They want Canadian citizens to foot their medical bill. That's right if I get sick for longer than a week then Canada Post management wants you the tax payer to foot the bill.

Me I just want to do my job, and if I have to work longer to get sick days so that my fellow Canadians don't have to pay for them, so be it. C'mon if management thought this was such a hot idea, why didn't they do it first? After all, that's leadership. "

brad
It is not your letter carrier or the people that handle the mail that are on strike. It is the administration, engineers and customer service that are on strike. You will get your mail. If you think privatizing is the answer their is no private company I would trust to deliver my mail in a rural setting. They would never be accountable.

Rob
I am currently living in Japan, whose postal service truly gives you 'SERVICE'. Parcels are delivered until 9pm each night and mail is delivered 7 days a week. I don't miss Canada Post.

Rene
I believe the message that should be heard is that Canada Post is trying to implement a short term disability program that would see their employees accessing the Employment Insurance plan instead of being able to access their banked Sick Leave which is an insurance policy for employee's should they find themselves ill for long periods of time. With this type of plan the EI system would be depleted in no time as there are more than 70,000 workers at Canada Post. The Employment Insurance program was formed to provide protection for worker's should they find themselves with out any sick leave protection or for worker's that have become unemployed not to have big profit making companies like Canada Post use the EI system as a means to offload their sick leave plan programs or costs. If this happens the average Canadian will not have access to the EI system should they need it. Not to mention this will signal to any employer that it is ok for employee's to cover all of the costs for their benefits.

You want to talk about overpaid postal worker's funny I do not hear anyone complaining that the CEO of Canada post takes home a nice paycheck not to mention the fact that she is paid to sit on the Board of Directors for Tim Horton's, so who's raking in the cash? After all it is Moya and her Greene team that continue to increase the price of postage yet they continue to make profits year after year, 14 years to be exact.

CUPW (Canadian Union of Postal Workers) went on strike in the 80's for maternity leave and this fight was won thanks to a union which all Canadians have a right to access.

25 years as a front line worker at Canada Post
Wow the anger and outrage people are venting here today. Imagine working in a place where you have no control over policy yet have to listen to this anger and outrage directed at you everyday, all day. And you can not rectify the situation. Welcome to the front line work - mailman and counter people of Canada Post, encounter everyday at their workplace. And they are not the ones this story is about, it is their bosses.
Walk a mile in someone's shoes before you are quick to pass judgement. It is only fair.

Christina, student at Carleton University
As a friend of a university student who works for Canada Post in order to put herself through university...

I'm deeply saddened. By the fact that a deal has not yet been reached - and upset that so many people here can leave such insensitive comments!

Seriously, everyone should be entitled to a competitive wage (amongst other things). They *are* providing an important service.

Delores
Overall the majority of inside/outside workers are doing what they can, yet, they are at the mercy of uncertain times. What may be happen in future contracts is grandfathering current contract/unionized worker's hourly wages into generating the two/three tiered wage earner doing the same work for plan A, B, and C pay scales. Be careful for what you wish for. It's coming soon to your neighbourhood.

Mike
Anyone who thinks privatization will lead to cheaper rates and better service has not done their research...it's been tried, and it doesn't work. And fyi, there is not a single taxpayer's dollar involved with Canada Post. It's self sustaining and has, in fact, been paying excessive dividends to the government for years instead of putting profits into improving service. Community mailboxes are the corporation's idea, the union has always fought it. Letter carriers and handlers are being intentionally overburdened to make them look anachronistic and inefficient, injury rates are atrocious. Canada Post's CEO bags over $500k, if there's a financial crunch, then start the trimming there and continue with the management fat structure from there. I personally do not want my mail handled by the lowest bidder!

Gordon
Canada Post is the classic example I think of when talking about inefficient Crown Corporations.

I recently had to call them six times, just to stop delivery of junk mail.

The Federal Government should "Tender Out" mail delivery to a private company like Federal Express or UPS.

If the private companies can deliver parcels with greater efficiency: which they do! Letter Mail should be a piece of cake.

melodie
People need to stop bad mouthing the regular posties and administrative staff.

Poor management and lack of direction as a Crown corporation are what ills this service - not the workers.

Prime example. Canada Post added a "fuel surcharge" to parcels when fuel prices were skyrocketing BUT they did NOT pass any of that money onto the 6000+ workers who uses their personal vehicles for mail delivery. I found myself making less and less every month yet the Coporation was raking in more and more dollars. So I quit. But I shouldn't have had to leave a job that I both enjoyed and did well because the corporation didn't take care of its employees.
Our country should strive to have decent, good paying jobs in every sector of the economy and we need to stop bad mouthing the ordinary folks who labor hard every day. Just like when you hear a bank made 1 billion dollars in 2007 and the executives raked in huge million dollar bonuses we shouldn't call the bank teller greedy when they ask for a raise.

J
This strike is not about more, it is about what is being taken away.
Like John in Fredricton said,"visit PSAC.com and then make your comments"
With the cutbacks in sick leave and family realted leave, I would be striking as well.
Who in there right mind would want an insurance provider making the decision on if you are sick or not. They would have the final say if you got paid for the time off due to illness. Makes sense to me? If you got a combined 20 days a year in these 2 types of leave and your employer wanted to cut that back to 7 days, who would be causing an uproar then?
Good for them, why settle for cutbacks.

Marie
From what I understand ... it is the ADMINISTRATION and TECH SUPPORT who are on strike ... letter-carriers may be later on but right now it is the 'office' people. As everyone knows these days that in any organization (gov't or otherwise), they are all top-heavy and many people try to justify their employments because they want to keep their jobs. However, I've worked in gov't jobs and if you want time off, you work it and bank it ... you are given a certain amount of sick days, family days, etc when you start and it increases with the number of years you work there. So what's the problem with that? I see none. If you are sick, you are allowed 3 consecutive days before you have to have a doctor's note. If you are sick longer than that, you get put on LTDI with a doctor's note too. Besides teachers who abuse their days when they have PA days,(they are often seen at doctor's appointments or getting their hair done, etc.), most gov't employees have it pretty good.
The expression 'oh, we are now one employee to do the job of 10 because of cut-backs' is hugely exagerated. One employee can do the job of 10, not impossible to do, however now the difference is there is no time to play games on your computer as I've seen it done many times.
In the small town where I live, the Post Office is now moved into Drugstores, well, my advise to these strikers is watch out, they may close down your building (Post Office) and move it to a drugstore near you and then you'll find yourself 'striking yourself out of a job'.

tony
check out psac.com and see why the notice of a strike was put into affect.

Kirk
I cannot believe the misinformation that the uneducated masses are swallowing up, mainly from the media. First of all, Canada Post is not subsidized by the Canadian taxpayer. Secondly, the strike issue has nothing to do with wages, its about sick leave benefits being paid out through use of EI benefits. Would you sooner see Canada Post pay out the sick time, or have YOUR EI premiums do it for them??....I've seen the proposal from Canada Post firsthand, and it remains unacceptable.

John E
Canada post should get just what the auto workers are getting. CP needs more competition. The union has some nerve striking now of all times. What Canada Post should be looking at is a wage cut for these workers.

BK
I am so tired of listening to people rant who know nothing at all about wages and benefits paid to public servants. I for one have worked hard and long for any benefits I have. If you non union people are so poorly paid and have no benefits perharps you should seek representation from a union and pay the hefty dues that go along with it. Quit Crying and Bashing others who work hard as your "servants" and appreciate once and for all what you do reap..

Linda
I wish people would quit trashing the mail carriers! It is not the carriers who are on strike - it is the administrative workers. Read the news people. In this day and age there are not too many people who want to start at the bottom. Carrying mail is not an easy task - not many people will be out there in all kinds of weather carrying at least 50 lbs of mail or more on their shoulders. Rememer the old adage - "walk a mile in my shoes". You should get out there and try it and see how long you lost

Don in BC
As has been the case they (Postal workers and Management) live in world of their own. Increasing wages and then postal rates is just what struggling Canadian companies and individuals needs in these times.

Hudsy
I am amazed at the acrimony towards unionized workers. It's unions that have improved the standard of living, unions that fight for human rights, pay equity, decent working hours, and many of the good things that you all benefit from. Carmel Divine..and Tom in Ottawa... are on the right track..and why in heaven's name would you begrudge someone from doing better than minimum wage. That is so very selfish and not Canadian. It's corporate greed and bad management that created the mess we are in. Too much free trade allowing jobs to go overseas to cheap labour. Wake up people.. if more people go on EI, welfare, etc.. who do you think pays for it?? You do!! you would prefer that to people being able to support themselves???

William
Canada Post's President makes over 450,000 a year, plus a 33% bonus, plus 90,000 a year for sitting on the Tim Horton's Board of Directors,2 vehicles, a driver and an expense account, not to mention that she pretty much bankrupted CNN.
Canada Post is top heavy with management,there is a VP for over 40 different departments. The only reason Moya Greene wants more profits so she can get her 33% bonus by pawning off her sick leave obligations to Employment insurance. It is her that wants us to use EI instead of our banked sick leave. PSAC employees average pay is 39 000 a year, hardly overpaid, and this is not about PSAC's wages. This is about Canada Post abusing the EI fund.

Mark
I keep on hearing that unions are DINOSAUR of the past. How many of you realize that it is thanks to the Canada Post unions that you have maternity leave? What about the work week? What about minimum wages? Unions have provide changes that everyone in the country has benefited from.

Sara
Slow the delivery? We sent a Christmas present early last December, it was finally delivered this November - 11 months later! How much slower can they get??? They should be thankful they still have a job in these times - there's many that would be happy to replace them!

Sylvain Ottawa
The union of postal employees is picking a very poor time to go looking for more benefits. At a time when many companies are cutting jobs and scaling back wages it will be hard for the employees to gain much support from the grater public. I for one am looking at a very bleak year. If they thing hard done by I'll accept the existing contract thank you!

Time to give back and provide good services
Carmen,

Canada Post unions always vote 80% against not a very good idicator for us.

The buttom line is have to become affordable for us normal Canadian workers. It is not us that should get a union, it should be you that get rid of yours.

It is time to face the reality. Let's privatize this union and focus on good service instead on more concessions to the PC workers.

Diogenes
As someone affected by this strike I have to say that the number of belicose replies to this topic is a little off-putting.

But I have to say that despite these comments, whether informed or uninformed, that people have to understand that this comes down to the principle of fairness. Canada Post's management has refused to negotiate on the point of personal leave and Sick Days. They want Canadian citizens to foot their medical bill. That's right if I get sick for longer than a week then Canada Post management wants you the tax payer to foot the bill.

Me I just want to do my job, and if I have to work longer to get sick days so that my fellow Canadians don't have to pay for them, so be it. C'mon if management thought this was such a hot idea, why didn't they do it first? After all, that's leadership.

Don't let the union ruin your life....
PSAC / Canada Post

I feel sorry for the employees at Canada Post who have been brainwashed by the Union Boss. The Union Management will not be the one without days of pay taking out of their salary on the next pay cheque. The Union Management is not the one facing a lock-out from Canada Post should this strike keep on. Get the Union out of the way and let those employees work and take home a pay cheque in these hawfull days of unemployment in Canada and the world. The Union is now saying that CPC is liyng and did not present them an offer last night so that they could start their strike this am and not present this last offer to the employees who would have taken it immediately. Also, the Union should look at the way they treat their own employees and look at the no benefit clause at retirement. Their employees went on strike for this and still did not get it. Some Component of the PSAC lockout their employees on strike for 6 months over indexed pension plan and many more so let the CPC employees go back to work, return to the bargaining table and get serious and realistic. CPC made a final reasonable offer - it should be presented to the employees so they can vote on it. Also, this sick leave, etc., the teachers, the nurses, etc, in Quebec have had that benefit for many years. Nobody complains about it. The teachers in Quebec do not even have a dental plan....or parental leave or family care leave or marriage leave or many others available at Canada Post. Job security ...get back to work

Jay, Ottawa
Steve G said, "For those of you who want to privatize Canda Post, I challenge you to price a package delivery to/from anywhere in Canada with privtae entities such as FedEx, UPS etc and compare it to Priority Post's costs."

Okay I did. Sending a 30x30x30cm box using FedEx was $4.00 cheaper than Canada Post's cheapest rate. I think that's the point everyone is trying to make.

Carmel Divine
You folks really should read this new story...maybe for the first time....

You are making "blanket comments" to "let off steam" over past problems you have had with the post office and Canada Post.....dating back years....

Canada Post is in effect attempting to strip these workers of their sick leave, something that they have fought for in the past.

Canada Post's contract proposal was voted against by more than EIGHTY per cent of these employees.

This is an absolutely incredible rejection majority. Nobody wants to strike in these times...

The workers can't help it that you don't have this benefit....Maybe you should get a unionized job too!....

Canada Post is just playing games with this small union, so they can have their big chance with CUPW in a few years...

That is what this strike is all about...

MJ
What's wrong with these people at a time of recession, this is not the time to strike with our neighbouring country laying off so many people. I am sure there are other people who would be willing to come and work Appreciate that you have bread & butter on your table and GET BACK TO WORK!

Clem
I rarely use Canada Post. I pay my bills online, banking online and write letters online. Canada Post is fast becoming a white elephant. They're losing business every year. Count yourself lucky you have a job. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work there.Lots of unemployed people would work there for less money.

Barry
Good luck to these employees...I am currently on disability from CP and it is something that they have to protect. You never know if or when you need it. There have been soo many job cuts at CP are doing their best to get the mail out. Again good luck to you guys.

Daryl
Kids deliver our local newspaper and how much do they get paid? Mail delivery is for 12 year olds...your first job. Anything more than minimum is too much. People working at Tim Horton's or doing anything requires more responsiblity than the delivery people. Give this job to kids who deserve the increase.

Pay decrease is in order!!!!
Privatized this dinosaur!!! They will never get it until you do.

Union may have been great in the 50th but now they are outdated especially for CP.

They are simply rude and unproductive. Who really wants to give them a raise based on their performance?

Let them face the same reality that we face these days. They deserve a pay decrease let them have that instead!

Steve G
For those of you who want to privatize Canda Post, I challenge you to price a package delivery to/from anywhere in Canada with privtae entities such as FedEx, UPS etc and compare it to Priority Post's costs.

Hmmmm...maybe privatization isn't so rosy after all?!?!

The Hammer
It's amazing how some people don't know how good they've got it and continue to want to bite the hand that feeds them. Are they serious, 7 weeks holidays for someone with 28 years of service, plus all the Stat. Holiday's in a given year, coupled with probably an average of another week of sick leave or family leave a year, that gives them close to 11 paid in full weeks a year off and they are not satisfied.

I can only hope the tempeture drops dramatically. Let them freeze. I sure hope the Government for once dosen't cave into these over priced stamp licker's. I agree with previously posted comments, it's no wonder FedEX and UPS are more reliable than our own Crown Corp.

Shan
We need to even the labor laws to stop giving unions monopoly power and the ability to force an employer to concede by work stoppages. This is just before Christmas time - it amounts to extortion in my mind. The workers already get a package that is far better than the rest of the workforce.

Gillian
How unbelievable in these dire times where people are losing their jobs and homes that these people feel they deserve a raise.
With the internet and technology fewer people are mailing letters so with this situation I will now send a birthday card to our grandson via the internet at no charge. I would prefer to have the card arrive at home for his birthday but if there is no guarantee I will use the alternative.
When visiting the U.S. we have wonderful service from the USPS including home pickup and Saturday delivery.
These people need a reality check.

Cambob
Economic Meltdown. Massive Layoffs. Maybe it's time Harper sold off Canada Post and let these morons 'strike in the real world'.

Tom (Ottawa)
Wow, I cannot believe what I am hearing on boards such as these. Similar comments when the Auto Industry was in trouble.

Do you not see what you are doing to your fellow citizens, you are supporting the idea that they go on unemployment. This is bad as it takes the economic down faster with the present crisis.

I am shocked that only a few people have brought up the exaggerated wages and bonuses that are paid to CEO, CFO, etc. In my mind that has to stop.

Keep the jobs for the working man and woman, they are the ones who move the economy by being spending and paying taxes to support they families.

I truly feel disgusted by these heartless comments. You are not wrong to ask for a better quality of life.

Hudsy
yes..union workers.. if you want minimum wage workers doing the work then you only get what you pay for... these people have put years into publice service..and as will any union environment maintaining a decent wage in today's economic crisis is even more important than ever... costs go up.. wages have to, also... if you can support a family, mortgage, car pymts, etc on minimum wage ..go for it..

Ronald
Sell Canada Post to Toyota. No unions and good service at a fair price.

John
I've read most of the comments made and I think a lot of people are just not well infomed. Go to the PSAC website and read what Canada Post is actually offering. This is a very small ,Union 2400 members. If the current proposal is passed with UPCE, then Canada Post will go after the other Unions, then you'll 77,000 employees using Employment Insurance to subsidize Canada Post obligation to their employees for sick leave. Let's see how our EI fund will look then. The EI fund is for workers like in the auto industry and seasonal workers, not for Corporation with 13 consecutive years of profits to get richer by abusing the EI system. And what Mike said in the 4 post is accurate, there is a big misconception that Canada Post employees make a fortune. It just isn't so. The UPCE members work hard and beleive me earn every penny. I just wish people had the facts before they make their opinions. From what I read people are not well informed and are making very unkind statements. Go to PSAC.com and they make your comments.
John Fredericton NB

AE from BIG T.O.
Well, I dont know much about CP employees problems nor do I know how much they get paid and how well/bad they have it. All I can say is this is a good time for them to realize that online mail deliveries is soon taking their jobs. I personally get 80% of my mail (bills mainly) online. The remaining 20% are your occasional deliveries or post cards.
In Toronto, CP is very good and reliable. My mail-lady is amazing. There are times when I had mail with the wrong address and she still delivered to me. She leaves notes if packages are too big or if she couldnt leave them in a safe spot.

If all CP employees are like her, I think they deserve to be treated better than right. If not, then she's an exception and should get promoted!

But I agree with a poster from Quebec who said that CP workers are horrible in that province. I experienced that when I lived in Montreal for 1/2 a year.

DW
So much great logic, folks.

"I worked my whole life for 2 cents an hour, 80 hours a week with no sick days and no vacation days so everyone else should have to do the same!" blah blah blah...

You know what folks? We get it. You work hard and things are hard for you. But you know something? So do others and it's hard for them too.

Why bemoan someone else's life? What good does it serve you?

And it's not unions that destroy jobs and economies. It's globalization. Unions are postponing the inevitable and providing decent lives for Canadian families in the meantime.

Higher wages pay higher taxes and spend more in their local economies. That's good for everyone.

To me it sounds like you all want lower wages, more competition amoungst ourselves, and more globalization. You all actually want Canada to become a third world country?

Every human born on this planet deserves a quality of life only equal to the quality of life that can be afforded every other human on the planet. No one deserves more or less than that.

tired of unions
My mother in Southern Ontario sends something to Burlington...it gets processed here in New Brunswick and then sent back to Ontario...what's up with that. Time to get rid of the union and get something in there that's more efficient. Unions are the fall of this country because they can strike when they want hoping to get public support on their side. They should be thankful they have a job.

Yo yo Ma
Unions only enforce the Provincial Labour Code... Something which YOU are able to defend YOURSELF with. If an employer wrongs you, you can go to the Labour board and they'll take care of it. As far as wages go, government workers are greedy and deserve to be fired.

Charles from Ottawa
Good, please stay on strike.

I'm so fed up with their continual bickering that I have signed up for every possible on-line and electronic statement.

Richie
$20 an hour isn't much if you're in Alberta... But for the posties trying to justify this in Ontario, you folks are simply driving inflation. Some of these unskilled bureaucrats have the audacity to claim the rest of us are paid too little. Not only are the majority of us paid less than Posties, we're overtaxed to pay their ridiculous wages. We should send these administrative positions overseas and save money, just like the government has let happen with all our manufacturing jobs. Shipping a small box from Florida to Oregan runs you $2.38... Small box from London, ON to Barrie, ON $11.09 and the price will continue to rise despite the complete drop in oil prices. Right on Canada Post, the day you guys are fired and privatized, I will cheer in the street like we just won a war.

Judy
In this time of economic problems in the world these people should be happy to even still have a job.

Ronald
Fire them all and rip up their contracts. Canadians are tired of over-paying for their greed.

RK
The only thing I’ll notice again this strike… is absolutely nothing. My bills are all emailed to me online, and I pay through my bank’s website. The only thing I get in the mail any more is bulk unaddressed junk mail and Christmas cards (I put the junk mail back in the “out” slot of my super box… if they are paid to deliver it, they can be paid to throw it out.)

Steve - Montreal
I hope they stay on strike. In my area they demonstrate very little respect and insight for their job. Mail destroyed or undelivered, mail delivered to the wrong address, insulting people behind the counter. Just like the big 3 auto makers didn't want to see the small cars coming, these postal employees don't appear to have access to email or on-line bill payments.

Jay
Well, if these employees are going to be dipping into EI for sick leave instead of using their banked hours, which is what CPC is proposing, that is 2400 workers under PSAC and 55,00 plus with CUPW, because they will be next. The EI fund is for people who NEED it, not for people who already have banked sick leave.
Also, for anyone who receives epost billing, that is owned by CPC, so online billing through epost is done by these PSAC employees. My sister is one of them.

JR
What is wrong with these people...seems to me that is one hell of a contract offer considering there are all the companies shutting down...what do they expect...they should be the ones out of jobs and the people who have been let go from other companies would probably be happy to accept a job....I know I would in this time of economic problems.

David P
I receive, in an average month, six bills and financial statements. That's it - my other correspondence is all electronic. This strike, should it start delaying that mail, will merely move me from my stupour and begin getting those notifications electronicaly as well.

The era of the post office is drawing to a close. I'm sure I will see in my lifetime Canada Post losing its lettermail monopoly; already, I try to get packages shipped by other than Canada Post, due to their lackadaisical customer service, and leisurely delivery times.

Angry at Unions
What can I say. People all over the world are losing their jobs and these people are now going to fight for a 35 cent an hour pay increase. Feel lucky to be employed in today's current economic condition. To those employees that feel that $20 an hour is not enough, please remember that you're doing a job where no skill or education is required. There's more skill and team collaberation needed to work an $8.00 an hour job at McDonalds or Burger King. And with that said, and you're still unhappy with the $20 an hour you're getting paid, then by all means, resign and let someone else take it that would be greatful to have that opportunity and find yourself a job that pays more.

Unions have done great things to protect the hard working people decades ago. I won't take that away from them. Unfortunately in todays times, they're protecting non hard working people that feel that they're entitled to more pay with lack lustre performance.

Richard
It's ok if you don't deliver my bills. You can keep those.

Dave
The world is going into financial meltdown...companies are going under at a pace not seen since the depression and people across Canada who still have jobs are thankful for them...and NOW Canada Post goes on strike?

Sign

Look Elsewhere for sympathy
I'm currently in Kandahar, and I tell you, mail is probably the greatest source of morale for the troops over here. If mail gets delayed, I'll be rather upset.
Sorry, no sympathy

Still waiting for my mail!!!
Well I have an idea, give them what they want but mail it to them. They will never get it, just like us! lololo

canadapostiskillingmybusiness
Canada post rates are the highest in the world,,i ship over 1000 parcels a year so i get the comparision,this year another hike(blamed on higher fuel costs,,really?)Its time for layoffs and management changes,,don,t get me started on damaged parcels!!!

Tanya
OMG, I can't believe the union bashing I am hearing in these posts. I think all of you better realize that if it weren't for unions being formed all those years ago by probably your parents and grandparents, the wages you are earning would be a pitance and don't think for one minute that if their weren't any unions trying to protect workers rights that your pay wouldn't see a sizable decrease with mandatory overtime and no benefits because that is what the goal of big business is, not looking after their workers. Big Business only cares about their bottom line not human beings. Just watch the Canadian news and really find out what happened on wall street that led to the global economic crisis, union workers had absolutely nothing to do with that it was capitalistic greed.

JON in ottawa
Privatize Canada Post !!!!
unionized employees ...have more vacation time, sick days, personal days, better benifits, buy out packages, early retirement and better pay than the average canadian. They should have a pay scale that is based on the average canadian wage. when they are hired they know the pay thats its thats all, no more right to strike, something given up when you decide to work for the tax paying people of this country.

no wonder bussinesses are moving out of the country its only china,india and mexico that people want to work. Unions end up killing every private sector bussiness as they eventually can't compete. Its just government that keeps paying more and more and more. We never hear anything about these issues at election time.

Phil
Time to stop publically funding this dinosaur.

Roger the Grey
With the rise in housing, rent, etc., I'm not surprised that mail persons want a raise in income. Who wouldn't? However, when it takes almost 2 months for mail for mail to go six blocks from my work to my house, and just as long to go from Alberta to Ontario, USA, or Europe (though it takes about 2 weeks for regular mail to come in from those places), I have to start asking WHY? And do certain workers really deserve a raise!?

GunShot you are in lala land!!!!
The Postal union workers have been nothing but trouble for Canadian for many years. They are underworked and overpaid period. While the rest of the world is adapting to the new economic reality, these spoil brats are crying for more while doing less and less.

Going to the Post office remains my worst customer's experience, it's like we are disturbing them!!!

Shame on them and fire them all, we may then start to hire new personnel that want to serve thier customers.

I would write to them to tell them but they could never deliver it of course!!!

Fire them all and start over again with employees that wanna work!!!

R/H Ontario
"Retention of seven weeks for holidays after 28 years service for all employees at the time of contract signing."
WHAT? I worked for 50 (FIFTY) years and still only got 2 weeks vacation a year. Get rid of the CP and let private firms do it... They will and for less than it's costing us now. Fire the lot of them, and start over. Just like the GREED of the auto workers, this be the end of the CP, and not before time. I use online for most things and can easily send parcels and letters by UPS or Courier, No problem!

waynew62
A lot of Anti Union rhetoric here, as usual when the word strike is cast out. Most of these posters are either too young to know, or just too bloody dumb to remember what it was like without unions.
Sure easy to rush to judgement people!! You in your non union jobs have said it yourselves but your too stupid to see it.Canada post is trying to roll back benefits that were fought for and the workers are not standing for it,plain and simple.

D.Mac
IT is so frustrating. Unions have no clue as to what is happening in society. Here is a government union of government employees paid by tax dollars asking for more benefits during a time when regulaar tax payers have to worry about thier jobs and the market and their RRSP's. In my view the government should be laying off government workers. The private work force is struggling and the people paid by their tax dollars and not actually generating GDP need to be reduced. When 1/3 of your workforce is on the government payroll you have a problem. All government workers have pensions. The rest of the industry has RRSP's which may in fact be drastically reduced and here they are striking for more. Shame, Shame

Allan Eizinas
The concept of a strike is to create inconvenience and to get the public on your side. Going on strike for better wages and benefits when most others are just trying to hold on to their jobs, are taking pay cuts or have already lost their jobs is not going to elicit public sympathy. Under these bad economic times we may see more violence on these picket lines as angry taxpayers ram their way through the lines.

Perhaps those who have recently lost their jobs would apply for those postal jobs that have to be done when the current work force walks out.

Acroyear
Unions have long passed the point where they are actually doing good for their members.

The rest of Canada so mistrusts the motive of ANY union right now that they could be striking for something they genuinely need and I'd bet the farm most Canadians wouldn't give a fig or listen.

Greed, corruption and not caring a damn what the people of Canada think about them is coming back to haunt unions now...especially when once again they really do have a looming crisis to protect their members from.

And having said all that, I think a good house cleaning of the admin posts at Canada Post is long overdue...I'd equally bet that same farm that it's as bloated in admin positions as any other crown corp.

So, short version? I have no sympathy for this strike...make us believe you actually deserve what you're asking for, then ask for our support if you strike.

Henry Wysmulek
How many of you critics would just sit back and let management take away benefits that it took you 50 years to get?

As we have seen in this recession, poor management decisions have cost all of us millions, and the employees are the ones to lose their benifits and jobs, while these lowsy managers get millions in compensation for screwing everything up?

The screwups get millions, while everyone else loses everything.

Todd Hagar
Canada Post is just playing the take away game. Everyday they want more and more out of every worker and restrain the worker with more and more retraints. Do more with less. Go faster with zero errors, walk faster and add more weight and take away grey boxes. Then it's compounded by union conditions and their demands on the workforce to comply and it's a never ending cycle. Someone seriosly needs to sit down and think of the customer and rethink what the job of Canada Post is. House to house delivery is like that of the typewriter. Increase the use of Group Mail Boxes, your on the right track with the retail - now just eliminate the 7am to 12 noon attitute to a 24 hour day and things could work so much better. Could you imagine a postie coming into work and his or her mail is already been sorted during the night by staff, bagged and sent out and all the postie had to do is showup on time and deliver his route. No drama. Problem with the sortatation or delivery - goes back into the system and is corrected or reviewed the next day. No big deal. You want faster service - go to retail and pay for the service - A lot more then at present. You want flyers and samples and books and parcels and etc - go to retail. Do I really care if Canada Post delivers a pizza flyer and 6 other admail to my house. Now complicate the process with this house you can deliver this crap to and this house you can't and now your on the same page as Canada Post.

Ray
Maybe the "posties" should wake up and read the news once in a while. The financial world is melting down and they decide to go on strike. ...

ron in victoria
to lisa pryce-personal experiance is i met a postie at a motorcycle rally in south dakota. said he could do his mail route in 2 hours, bought a new harly davidson [$23000]and was using his saved up sick time to ride in from victoria paid in full.[not his normal paid holiday]-this guy was 23 years old!! yah, sure is a tough job!

GutSHOT
Lisa Pryce says it well.

For all you anti-union folks that think the postal service employ is overpaid and the fees are too great..... Have you ever thought that just maybe you guys are being paid too little, rather than union jobs paying too much?

Perhaps instead of crying about how much money and benefits others receive, you should be worrying about your own?? Or is it because you want to be leading the race to the bottom??

Mailing a letter is the best bargain there is in Canada. They do a good job. Are they perfect? No, but who is?

Im a non-union employee, and I support my postal workers in their bid for what I see as reasonable. To those who dont, maybe you should get your own affairs in order.

Janet
This has nothing to do with the Letter Carriers or the Inside Workers. There is about 4 different unions in the Post Office so people should get to know which Union is which before the nasty comments. As for the wages, Postal Workers makes way less money then TTC workers or GM workers. So why doe the public not complain when GM or the TTC go on strike. Why not let your Letter Carrier know he is doing a good job. Believe me,they work for their money.

The mail never get there anyway!!!!
I almost feel like sending them a card now!!! Cuz i know it will never get there as usual!!!

Go Union GO!!!!

Postal Booter
I would ask our Finance Minister to put the "CANADA POST" as priority #1 "FOR SALE" to a respectable private owner.

This branch of Government is so inefficient, and costly, that a private owner would establish "SERVICE", at a much cheaper cost, & be a non-union company as well.


"LET FREEDOM RING WITH A NEW PRIVATE ENTERPRISE"

mark in toronto
The unions are company killers. Air Canada, GM, Ford, Chrysler.

And what's this? These are unionized paper-pushers! So nice that that the union is there to protect them in these unfair times.

Be lucky you are employed you selfish, selfish people. You have it so good already. You will not receive any sympathy from Canadians and taxpayers.

When there's a layoff at CP,
I hope you 2100 are the first to go. I really really do. Then maybe you'll realize it's not that bad.

J
I guess people read into things what they want-the carriers are not on strike...yet. This is the admin and tech workers. As of the moment, mail will not be delayed.
The sick time and family related time that these people get is great...time off to take ailing parents/children to dr's appointments...etc.
CPC wants to drop the credits to 7 personal days a year...not to mention that if they have to be off for a longer period off time, the insurance provider will have to determine if they are sick or not, a note from the doctor will not be good enough. That in turn will make for more doctors fees for all of the extra forms that will have to be filled out.
The wage offer is fair, not what the private sector would get, but don't touch benefits.
If this was a benefits cut that was proposed to the BIG 3, even the public would be up in arms.

Logan
I get my cheque through the mail and if this does indeed slow down mail to the point where I don't get my cheque, I can't pay my bills or my rent. I fricking hate unions. Nothing but trouble.

T in BC
E-cards and couriers. Merry Christmas. Move on.

Mercedeez
For those who are using the word more competent and mail carriers at the same time cratch your head and read the actual folks that are on strike. The people WHO ARE on strike are the PSAC ADMINISTRATIVE WORKERS and NOT THE CARRIERS - HELLO!

Golf Company Grunt
My only concern is if the strike escalates to the point where the carriers walk off the job, how will all the mail and parcels get to 8 Wing Trenton to be delivered to the troops overseas.

'Pro Patria'

lisa pryce
WOW - Wake up Canada. I ran my own business with no benefits for 25 years. When I shut it down and began working at Canada Post - Part time... I thought it would be easy. It is the hardest job I have ever done and I am no sissy. I cannot believe the attitude of you people. No one has the right to judge something they have never done. And, by the way - $20.00 and hour??????????? How is this over paid - especially for what we do. I know hall monitors that would for TDSB that make the same. Besides, this dispute is about how the sick days are paid. It boils down to going through and insurance company for short term illness which means that there is a 10 week break in pay before you realize the money. So, when you are I part time person, raising kids on $20.00 an hour, who pays the bills when your waiting for the insurance company to pay your claim. Imagine you get the flu and you have to go to work sick in order to avoid dealing with insurance. That is probably what the management wants I guess. As for the comments here - you should be ashamed trying to comment on what you have no idea about.

Marc
It's time to sell Canada Post

Greg - Signs and Wonders
Yawn....

More union BS !

Two or 3 weeks of posturing and they're demands will be met.
Sadly, it's these union people that'll soon deliver UI cheques to the soon-to-be former union employees of a once global company GM.

Get your heads out of the sand!!! Unions are yesterdays soup!!

Peter Griffiths
Well you can all take solace in the fact that the temperature is at or below freezing today and those on the picket line aren't having a great time out there. Note to Union; better turn out will be achieved if you hold these things in summer.
Union and members also note; unfortunate laid off Nortel High Tech workers would love to have your jobs, but probably couldn't land them because they would be classed as over qualified.

Shannon
I have two words for the union dinosaurs......General Motors.

Calgary Sabre 2
Any employer should know that trying to "roll back" benefits is a non-starter. You might get by with a smaller salary increase (or even no increase in bad economic times) but do not touch benefits. Employees view that as sacred ground. The employer is either as dumb as a rock, or looking for a fight.

upset
What The He.. does the Unions think about in this day and age when large portion of the free worlds problems are workers who are under worked and over paid. Everyone in this great country needs to wake up and smell the roses

Jim-Surrey
Now we know why it is called "snail mail". The posties will do anything they can to screw up delivery. It hasn't been done efficiently for years. ...With today's money problems many employers will be looking for breaks to help keep their heads out the water even though this country is better off than most thanks to the Bush administration and the damage they did ended up affecting the whole world.
Posties! just do your job and be thankful you have one!

Pete
Go on and let them strike. No one would ever notice the difference in the speed of the mail system ...it sucks already, and has for years. There is a global recession going on now and this union needs to wake up to it. I liked it quite a few years back when Ronald Reagan fired all striking air traffic controllers and replaced them with people who WANTED to work. We should do the same with all sectors of workers who are, or are contemplating striking at this tough time. Get rid of them all. I know where there are thousands of unskilled workers who would give their eye teeth for these jobs .... General Motors. ...

Mark
Do the math unionists. There is a serious economic downturn going on. You are public servants paid by taxpayers. Canada Post can be modernized and will be-don't ask for a 'bail-out' when you lose your overpaid, inefficient job.

ron in victoria
sick leave 'credits', 'family related' leave, won't effect mail, we've been paying for 10 years--like what planet are these 'workers' living on. let them and their union bullies stay on strike.

island girl
They have been without a contract since the summer but of course this is timed so as to interfere with Christmas mail by the time talks run their course and other branches of the union get involved. You wouldn't see this in July. That's ok, I'm not sending cards this year...

DW
To George,

Yeah! Privatize everything!

I, personally, hope they privatize the water supply. I'd love to start paying three or four times the amount I am now.

Then they can deregulate it so that the water companies
police themselves on safety. People will get sick but it'll only be the poor ones who can't afford the "premium service".

Making profit off of our life necessities is fantastice! How dare any worker ever ask for anything! They should just be happy they're alive! Only the rich & powerful in this world deserve anything!

Sahib Reginawale
Hey you fellas those postal employees are not spoilt people. They move the words from one to another despite the vicious dogs. God bless them. Woof!

Brad
Sorry Mike but I know what these folks make and while I admit it won't make them rich it's more than a lot of others out there. This pre-Christmas slowdown is not going to win them any friends and I hope it leads to privitization.

Nancy - BC
Gee I remember the days they actually delivered the mail to your door. Now we have to go to a superbox.

Someone should suggest they watch the news so they can understand the state of the economy.

Time to dissolve the union.

Robert Collin
In Florida we get mail delivered on Saturdays, and the mailmen(ladies) will also pickup any mail to go. That is what you call service. Fire everyone and subcontract the CPO Service and see our rates drop and service improve immediately.

Pip
Perhaps we should be offering these administrators what they are worth, not what they demand. Then we might see a salary roll-back.

Personally, I would like to see a breakdown of Canada Post employess: what percentage are management, what percentage administrators and supervisors, what percentage are people who actually sort, transport and deliver the mail and interface with the public. If the combination of management and other administration is greater than 15%, the whole structure needs to be re-examined.

In the meantime, my christmas mail for overseas is well on its way, and I'm sure I'll find a way to deliver in-country cards.

Mike you are real funny
Could we do there jobs? Slower mail service? Impossible indeed!!!hahhahaha

You are right we could never do that bad and as slow as they doing now!!!! They have decades of experience of doing a very poor job!!!

Send them all home, now!!!

You have a point!!!

Martin in Ottawa
I agree with Jimmy B. We are in the midst of a global recesssion. Going on strike will only further the use of private mail systems and further the use of the Internet for anything related to mail.

I hate to say it but it's most government type jobs where you see people striking. Wish they would try the Private industry and then see what they say.

If you don't like your government job and it's standard type payscale... LEAVE. The private industry pays your salary after all. If you want to get paid more, take some risks.

George
Is this one of those organizations that the Finance Minister is considering selling like the CN Tower. About time I would say. Gee I wish I had a disability program etc etc not to mention EI and all the other safety nets which I help pay for but am not able to collect on. These are not the days to be whining about benefits and pay increases.

Too much time on peoples' hands and not enough productivity. Anyone remember when the mail was delivered door-to-door twice daily but only once on Saturday. Those were the days that folks gave tips to the mailman. Now what do most people like delivering to the postal workers? A tip alright but not a monetary one.

Lawrence
With more and more people utilizing online billing and email, this strike will not have a major impact as previous ones. They are only going to strike themselves out of a job.

The auto industry unions bankrupted the big 3 out of greed and lost tens of thousands of jobs, and the Canadian Postal workers will lose jobs as well, as they push more and more people to utilize online mailing and FedEx, UPS, or local Buses for parcels. But they don't see this as they are also blinded by greed.

Jimmy B - Perth Ontario
Wake up Canada Post employees. Has anyone mentioned to you that we're going into a global recession. If you only realized how well off you are and how many others would gladly swap jobs with you for less than your current level of benefits. Only in Canada eh!

Mike
I am not sure but I think you just said overpaid haha. my mom has been part time with CP for 15 years and I make in 1 months what she does in a year. They get the same benifits as any federal employee and that is the only perk to the job. People may be waiting to take their jobs but could they do their jobs? Or would you like to see a even slower postal system. As for doing it on the holidays, I agree it is going to be a pain in the butt, but as a union it is also a smart move. really when you are making pennies what is 2.5% especially in todays market. Most employers are giving an average or 4%.

Send them all home for good and move on!!!
A strike by Canada Post employees!!!! We won't even feel the difference they look on strike year long. Time to privatized and teach these spoiled employees what the real life look like. They always been giving us
a very poor service while we pay a very high price, not a good combo. Send them all to retirement and get rid of them for good!!! We can then hire emplyees that wanna work, enjoy their work and their customers. We deserve it!!!

Julie
Well I don't know about anyone else but in Gatineau QC the mail passes only twice a week. I had called and complained numerous times and their excuses ranged from lack of Staff to bad weather conditions. I got my cable bill dated September in November, So I guess I won't be getting any now

Bruce from Cambridge
Aw you poor mailmen, my heart goes out to you

Rob P
I hate how they always do this around the holidays, and then get what they want.

Sherry
I would love to hear the exact details to their current sick leave credits and family related leave provisions. I have a funny feeling they are way more than what I get and many other. Give the current details so the tax-paying citizens know exactly what you are dealing with.

Don Reid London
No wonder the postal system is not competitive with the private sector. These are the overpaid staff insensitive to today's economic crisis. There are numerous qualified unemployed Canadians who would be eager and competent to take the jobs