Instead of building on that vision, the government is going in the opposite direction: announcing sweeping changes to allow Canada Post to end door-to-door delivery and close rural post offices.   

If Canada Post finds itself in financial crisis today, it’s thanks to its bloated executives’ poor management and lack of vision, as well as a string of cuts by previous governments. It’s certainly not the fault of Canadians who are about to lose their mail service. Nor is it the fault of hard-working postal workers whose very livelihood is now in jeopardy.  

This government was elected to protect our jobs not cut the jobs of over 50,000 postal workers. It was elected on a promise of nation-building projects not a promise of destroying national institutions that make up the fabric of our country.  

That this announcement comes in the middle of a difficult round of bargaining with CUPW is of great concern. Ottawa is once again siding with management against workers. The only winner of this announcement is private delivery businesses who are only motivated by profit not service to Canadians.  

Canada’s unions will always stand in solidarity with postal workers. Their fight is a fight for the future our public services, our jobs and Canadian institutions that tie this country together.  

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OTTAWA – Canada’s unions stand in solidarity with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and urge the BC Maritime Employers Association (BCME) to return to the table and bargain outstanding issues in good faith. 

The fact is the best labour agreements are always the ones negotiated in good faith at the bargaining table. 

With the parties making good progress before negotiations broke down, the best way forward is for the union and employers to get back to talking and get this deal done. The sticking point remains the issue of contracting out maintenance work. The fact is this union, ILWU, represents skilled trades employees who can cost-effectively provide this maintenance work. 

Certainly no one, including the employers, the BCME, wants to see the erosion of fair wages and safe working conditions for these workers. We all should champion good jobs, with fair pay and benefits. Good union jobs have paved a path to the middle class for millions of workers and it is how we lift everyone up and build thriving communities. 

Canada’s unions are committed to being partners to industry and governments in helping Canada build a strong, skilled workforce ready to power Canada’s economy.   

The union is still at the table and remains committed to the federal mediation process, ready to get a deal done. It is critical now for the BCME to join them and finish bargaining the outstanding issues in good faith. 

Back-to-work legislation goes against collective bargaining rights and is counter-productive to long-term peace and stability in an industry. We urge the government to reject those in corporate Canada pushing for the erosion of workers’ rights. Canada’s unions join Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan in urging the parties to get a deal done at the bargaining table. 

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