Canada Post’s Forced Vote: A Threat to Workers and Public Service

Many of you may be wondering why the union is advising its members to reject Canada Post’s offer. I’m not a member of CUPW, but I have been involved with unions for a long time, so I’d like to explain and offer my opinion.  

Canada Post Corporation, with government support, is showing a lack of respect for its postal workers. This forced vote on what the union calls a bad contract offer is just their latest effort to push their agenda and weaken the union’s strength. But let’s be clear: postal workers don’t back down easily. Canada Post hopes that workers are tired and ready to accept a deal that doesn’t meet the needs of its members or protect our public postal service. CUPW members have shown their strength and determination in the past. They went on strike last fall for five weeks to protest low wages and poor working conditions against a company that often disrespects them. Now, we have a government that is once again attacking collective bargaining rights.

Remember, in December, the Minister stopped a legal strike and required an Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC). I won’t list all the times the government has interfered, but these actions have undermined the bargaining process, which is a Charter Right in this country that corporations and bosses dislike. The union is asking its members to reject Canada Post’s offers. Let’s be clear: governments don’t usually force votes to settle labour disputes. Why? Because it’s controversial, and this is really about turning the public against the union when, in reality, it’s the government that’s interfering. Canada Post Corporation is avoiding negotiations and relying on the government to intervene, just as it has always done. Time and again, Canada Post’s management has played games while the government interferes in the bargaining process. The government should hold bosses accountable, not interfere, so they get their way. Managers are now offering a one-time $1,000 bonus, enticing workers when inflation is high and hoping that newer workers, who may not be aware of the union’s struggles, will accept it. This offer is not a fair deal for workers. It doesn’t protect jobs or services in our communities. If you don’t have a job in a few years because you gave up job protection for cash, well, what’s the good of that?

This forced vote, which disrupts the bargaining process, is a direct attack on workers’ rights. It undermines the union and its bargaining committee, attempting to bypass the democratic process that gives workers a genuine voice. This is unacceptable, and the government should not be interfering. Instead of helping management attack workers, they should focus on addressing the real issue: poor leadership and a bloated bureaucracy at Canada Post. The corporation has too many executives earning high salaries while frontline workers struggle to make ends meet. Canada Post is being run poorly to make a case for privatization. It’s no coincidence they want to privatize public services and allow their corporate friends to profit. The plan is simple: break the system, blame the workers, and sell off the pieces for profit. We cannot let that happen. Postal workers have always fought for the next generation. They have defended good jobs, fair wages, and a public service that Canadians rely on. If this deal goes through, it could change everything: fewer jobs, worse service, and more power for corporate management. That’s why a strong NO vote is essential. This vote isn’t just about one group of workers; it’s an attack on all of us. It’s an attack on decent union jobs and the services people depend on every day. That’s why we’re asking all workers to stand with CUPW. It’s time to take action. Speak out. Demand the removal of the top leaders at Canada Post Corporation, who have led it into decline. The union and all of us have had enough of their empty promises. The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour stands with CUPW, and we encourage all members to vote ‘no,’ speak out, and continue fighting for a better future for workers and the public.