WE’RE NO FOOLS!

Imagine what would happen if you were a parent of a little boy or girl and you told them that they had been really good all year and you were going to give them a reward. Next, you go over to their dresser, open their piggy bank, pull out about one-half of the money, and hand it back to them.

What would be their reaction? Do you think that they would feel rewarded?

That is exactly what Canada Post wants to do for Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers in our current negotiations. They want to give you a Corporate Team Incentive (CTI) and take it out of your Financial Cap. Under Article 35, the Financial Cap (the cap) is the money Canada Post has agreed to invest in improving wages, benefits and working conditions for RSMC’s. Each year of the 8 year long, Collective Agreement Canada Post agreed to pay RSMC’s another 15 Million Dollars.

Instead of investing in improved working conditions, payment for hours worked or new benefits, Canada Post wants to give you a CTI bonus that may, or may not, be paid once per year. This CTI is only paid out if the Corporation achieves certain targets. Canada Post Board of Directors sets those targets and they can change them at any time. The CTI is not cumulative like the Cap. The Cap is like your piggy bank. It is cumulative. If there is money in the Cap, it becomes part of your total compensation each year for the life of the Collective Agreement.

If every RSMC were to receive a CTI bonus of $1000.00 it would cost 7 million dollars ($1000 X 7000 RSMC’s = $7,000,000). That is about half of next year’s Cap money.

Canada Post thinks their workers are not smart enough to figure this out. They think that RSMC’s do not understand the Collective Agreement. They write letters to the RSMC’s that says the Union won’t allow the RSMC’s to obtain a CTI.

If Canada Post really wanted to offer an incentive, they would pay you over and above what they have already agreed to pay you. They would not take it out of your piggy bank.

We want to tell the boss we are not falling for these tricks. We want to stand together with all CUPW members and tell the employer to get reasonable and negotiate a fair Collective Agreement.

Get your hands out of our piggy bank!

(Brother John Bail National Director Pacific Region wrote this article and we want to express a special thanks to him sharing it with out members).

In Solidarity

Jane Marsh                                                            Doreen Cook

Toronto Local President                                        Acting Chief Shop Steward

April 1, 2010                                                        RSMC’s