Sisters and Brothers: 

Recently Canada Post hot shots (or so they believe) from Ottawa were on the work floor trying to negotiate directly with the members on sick leave, CTI, and short-term disability. 

There is only one reason that these top Canada Post Management are asking questions to workers. They want to find out how workers would feel about losing sick leave and replacing it with short-term disability plans, how they would feel about not getting a raise in salary, and how far they can push the members to work with less staff. 

You should stop and reflect on how many jobs are lost and how much extra work have been put on your backs while managers from Ottawa are roaming our work floor asking how are you “enjoying” the job.  Do not be afraid to tell them that the reduction in workers in your section is causing more injuries. Further as Moya Greene gives us lip service on Mental Stress, we should tell them that this reduction in staff is causing MENTAL STRESS!  Send a message back to the employer to practice what they preach.  After all, do they hear the workers concerns?  Simply put NO! 

The loudest message from our members must be that the “roamers” from Ottawa should be negotiating with the National Union, not individuals from the work floor.  While some workers innocently speak to these managers, management will be using everything you say against you for the next negotiation period.  They are conniving and plotting to take away our jobs, sick leave and benefits that we negotiated and fought so hard for.  The message to these “connivers” is to NEGOTIATE with our NATIONAL UNION not on the work floor. 

In the meantime, our strength comes from standing together as a collective, which means all of us.  Do not let management divide to get their greedy hands on our hard-earned jobs and benefits that we fought so hard for, and more importantly we deserve. 

In Solidarity 

Jane Marsh

Toronto Local President