Hello sisters, brothers, cousins & friends,
We may be back at work, but the fights not over May 22, 2025, is around the corner and we will be back on strike.
In the meantime, I wanted to remind you to that the deadline for submitting a letter to the Industrial Inquiry Commission on Canada Post is this Friday and I can not state enough how important it is for our futures at Canada Post that you send one. Below I have included below a copy of a letter from Regional Grievance Officer Amanda Cowie which includes a sample submission. Get yours in today and remember its Our Jobs – Our Fight – Our Future!
In solidarity,
Cheryllynn Saramaga-Martai
Winnipeg Local Grievance Office
Good Afternoon Members,
I understand everyone is busy, but our job security is in jeopardy!
Carriers, those who have heavy routes, work more than 8 hours a day, are short staffed, have personal struggles with SSD, these are the examples our union needs.
- Any letter that you can submit with your personal experience as evidence against this narrative that carriers are all done in 4 hours etc are helpful.
- RSMC’s in remote areas, how your customers rely on you, as you are their sole access to get essential goods delivered to them.
- Group 1 you can raise some of your staffing concerns, how lack of staffing has personally impacted your customers, or how you are having to close retail outlets early, or if your office were to be closed, how that would impact your community
- Small locals, how SSD is, or will impact you as a carrier or router.
These are just a few examples I can think of that would assist. If you can’ t think of a personal impact to you, as a union rep. What have you observed, or how you feel these alternate delivery methods would impact you or the membership is an idea. Please submit one yourself and encourage others to submit their letters as well. Below is where to submit it, and an example
Submitting a Letter to the Industrial Inquiry Commission
As part of his review of the current bargaining dispute between Canada Post and CUPW under section 108 of the Canada Labour Code, Commissioner William Kaplan is accepting written submissions from third parties and the public.
As postal workers and members of CUPW, we have a major stake in this process. We need to make sure our voices are heard, and that Commissioner Kaplan considers workers’ perspectives in his recommendations about the future of the public post office.
The Commissioner will review Canada Post’s financial situation, the possible diversification or alteration of delivery models, Canada Post’s viability as it is currently configured, as well as bargaining issues, including full-time employment, health and safety, and job security. The Commission’s report is due no later than May 15, 2025.
Recommendations may include “amendments to the collective agreement, and any other changes to be implemented, including the structures, rights and responsibilities of the parties in the collective bargaining process.”
Submissions are due FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025
They can be emailed to:
edsc.cdi-iic.esdc@labour-travail.gc.ca
As an extra precaution when sending in a submission, please cc: samuel@williamkaplan.com on your email to the IIC.
PLEASE NOTE: ALL submissions the Commission receives will be shared with both Canada Post and the Union. Submissions are not private or confidential.
Sample Submission
Dear Commissioner Kaplan,
My name is Jeremy Tobin, and I am a letter carrier from Ottawa, Ontario. I have been working for Canada Post since September 5, 2000, and I take pride in working for a public service.
As a longtime postal worker, I am writing to urge you to make recommendations that will ensure Canada Post takes seriously its obligations to protect the health and safety of its employees. In my nearly 25 years at the post office, I can tell you the job of a letter carrier has never been more physically demanding than it is now.
Over the last 15 years, letter carriers’ jobs have been completely transformed. My work is nothing like it was when I first started. With every effort it takes to boost worker productivity, Canada Post has consistently sacrificed worker health and safety. My depot has recently made the switch to a new work method called “Separate Sort from Delivery,” or SSD. Management says SSD is about accommodating more parcels, but it is clear workers’ health was an afterthought at best. Under SSD, I am now out on the street 8+ hours day, going up and down stairs, walking 20+km with a heavy load on my shoulders. By the end of the day, I’m physically and mentally exhausted.
There are simple fixes to SSD that Canada Post has so far refused to implement. For example, giving letter carriers just a little bit of time to combine their “sequenced” and “non-sequenced” mail into one bundle would go a long way in taking the pressure off. Beyond that, making sure carriers don’t have late start times will ensure carriers a far better work-life balance and allow them to take care of their responsibilities off the job.
Canada Post’s health and safety record is severely lacking. Too many of my co-workers are bearing the cost. In closing, I urge you to make recommendations that ensure Canada Post will not sacrifice its obligations to protect workers’ health in the name of enhanced productivity.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Tobin, Letter Carrier, Ottawa, ON
Prairie workers, as the largest geographical areas, our voices matters, we are almost half the country, please take some time today and submit your stories.
In Solidarity,
Amanda Cowie
Regional Grievance Officer-Prairie
Acowie@cupw-sttp.org
204-942-5480 ext 227
Cell 204-918-1206