Sisters and Brothers,
For years, there has been an ongoing issue with P04 employees being assigned driving duties and, as a result, displacing P05 employees from their scheduled rotations. This situation occurs because P04’s are not trained in certain functions. PO5’s are trained in certain areas such as dock operations and dispatching.
I personally experienced this while working on the East Docks during a midnight shift. I had waited nearly three months for a specific assignment that would have provided a welcome break from my previous, highly stressful duties. When the assignment finally became available, I was informed that I could not perform it and that a P04 employee would be taking my place.
As expected, I was told there was nothing I could do except accept the decision and file a grievance regarding my removal and replacement. However, I was not prepared to simply accept the situation. I stood my ground and refused to leave my assigned post. After approximately an hour of discussions, management ultimately allowed me to remain in the assignment.
Another concern is that when a P04 employee leaves their regular work location to perform driving duties, management often does not provide a replacement. As a result, the remaining employees are required to absorb the additional workload, creating the potential for overburdening staff and negatively impacting workplace efficiency and morale. Furthermore, P04s aren’t being compensated for driving at P05 pay rate and are working for less.
I’m officially asking P04s working at Gateway, South Central, and the Toronto Local delivery depot to stop driving voluntarily. If management truly cares about your health and safety, they’ll promote you. As a P05 you will officially be given the compensation you’re entitled to, and you’ll be fully trained to perform all duties. This will also free up a vacancy as a PO4 and allow promotion and allowing your coworkers to work harmoniously and minimize the stress and health and safety concerns that arise from your absence.
Ø We need to stay united more than ever now.
Ø Past practice isn’t our future practice. Our future practice is to do things the right way and be fair to others. We must adhere to our collective agreement and national constitution. Violating these could lead to Article 8 of the constitution.
Ø The harsh reality is that management is trying to make us work harder for less. By doing so, we demonstrate our ability to make things work through compensation for health and safety, respecting boundaries, and so on. Then, they simply delete your job. Upper management enjoys the bonuses they receive from your labour.
By working together and respecting one another, we can improve our working conditions and foster a sense of unity.
In Solidarity,
__________________________
Zach Avdelopoulos
President
CUPW Toronto Local
June 17, 2026
