January and
February certainly brought to light many issues and problems from the
workfloor. 

Cpc was
bidding and finalizing all changes in the WMPP – initiating a new section,
eliminating full time positions in Lock Boxes, reducing positions in all
sections dealing solely with letter mail and bidding annual leave all in a few
short weeks. What could go wrong ??? CPC chose to black out Stat weeks in the
Pre-retirement bid column, why you ask? Because they wanted consistentency and
simplified staffing, all with no regard to the rights and bid choices of
members. 

The AL bid
for Group 2 also saw the “consitency” applied for simple staffing and
black out of all Stat weeks in pre-retirment bid columns. 

Sshhh don’t
tell PCR , but this was not done in all working groups. 

The
announced proposed SSD restructure of all letter carrier routes in SW depot
has  brought heightened concerns for what could be longer walking routes,
increased points of call and the possibility of more injuries. The work floor
asked management some tough questions and to date those questions and concerns
have not been addressed and CPC has yet to deny or confirm the SSD method will
be implemented. A petition with over 450 signatures and letters of health and
safety concerns and questions from the workers has been sent to CEO Jessica
McDonald; if local management will not come to the workfloor to address these
issues, then let’s see if anyone up the management tree will. 

The
Director has continued with her frequently injured worker meetings; these meetings
can only bring heightened concern to the injured worker, that the target on
their back grows with each report of injury and each meeting held with the
Director.  Such meetings could only be planned to suppress injury
reporting and to ensure the workers know Big Brother is watching and certainly
gets reports on EVERY injury/incident reported. 

The Local
will be setting dates for the planning and prepping for our Local entry in the
1919 general strike Centenial Parade. Please watch for dates, contact the local
to join the committee and bring out your creative thoughts and passion for this
important event. 

STRIKE THE
MUSICAL, is back at Rainbow Stage this summer, please visit their web site for
show dates and to purchase your tickets.  CUPW National Office has
approved a $ 1000.00 sponsorship for this Musical. 

STAND: THE
MOVIE has several trailers available for viewing on YouTube,  please
search for them, watch and enjoy. Pay close attention to note many important
landmarks in our City in the film. This film will have  premiere showing
in May for labour affiliates and members, more details to come on this as
well.  National CUPW also approved funding as part of Labour Sponsorship
of $ 1 000 000.00. Thank you CUPW and all Labour affiliates for recognizing the
importance of the 1919 General strike and for allowing the story to be told.
CUPW is a proud sponsor of the Centennial and will have an ad in the Program,
please watch for that special entry. 

National
office once again chose Winnipeg to showcase our workers through this great
Manitoba winter we have been experiencing and had a photographer come to
capture their work. I joined Rob , of Robert Lowdon Photography to capture two
Letter Carriers last Friday and 1 RSMC in an Urban environment. On Wednesday
this week, I again joined Robert to photograph a very Rural setting RSMC
worker. The winds were howling on the open prairie as Robert captured her
careful control of each piece of mail in the wind. I will share these photos
and those from the fall photo session once I receive all photos from Robert.
Great work and great representation by our Made in Manitoba workers; National
office should be pleased with the very wintery prairie photos they had hoped
would be captured. 

The Volume
counts begin for the first depot, SW 3 – Ft Gary area-  of the SW
Installation on March 4. So for those workers of the WMPP please watch for
anything abnormal and please report it to the Local office. 

Thank you
in advance for all those who have accepted nomination to stand as a Shop
Stewards for our Local and for our Members. Whether you are a seasoned Steward
or whether this is completely new to you, please know your effort and
commitment is appreciated. Please feel free to always contact a Chief Shop
Steward or any Member of the Executive should you have questions or be unsure
of a members rights or your duties as a steward. I clearly remember the 1st 24
interview I ever attended, it was with Brother Tim Kerr out at Charleawood
Depot for a PO4 who had her sorting stool taken away and she was hot about it
and said a few things to a Supervisor. All i knew to do was write as fast as i
could of as much of what was said by everyone, i had writers cramp at the end.
For anyone who ever attended an interview with Tim, you know why, Tim was never
shy with words and he purposefully kept the meeting going to get as much 
info out of the Empliyer as he could and to keep the worker off the work floor
for as long as he could . Thanks Tim for being a great Steward role
model. 

Thanks to
all who are attending the GMM March 3, I am sorry I cannot be I 
attendance, I am away at the Prairie Region Educational facilitating the Route
Measurement course, one of my true loves as a Union member. Thank you for being
a part of this important meeting to nominate and elect representatives of our
Local to attend National Convention in May, where the Regional and National
leadership of our Union will be elected and changes to our National Constituion
are voted on as well. Thank you to those willing to stand for nomination and
election for this important process in our Union structure and Constituional
change process. 

Sol,

LISA
PETERSON 

PRESIDENT

CUPW
WINNIPEG LOCAL 856