By Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative/Penticton Herald

There wasnB次元官网网址檛 any Christmas holiday spirit on the picket line in Penticton Monday morning as striking Canada Post workers voiced their displeasure and anger at being forced back to work on Tuesday.

With the first big snow dump of winter falling to the ground, the striking workers were deeply disappointed their month-long strike was coming to an end after the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ordered a return-to-work decision over the weekend.

This complied with a demand on Thursday by federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, who directed the board to order 55,000 striking workers back to work if a deal could not be reached.

The Crown corporation said Sunday afternoon that employees would be back on the job Tuesday after CIRB ruled there had been an impasse in bargaining.

Debbie Attrill, president of Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 796 in Penticton, said the membership is frustrated, angry and incredulous that theyB次元官网网址檙e being forced to return to work without a negotiated settlement.

B次元官网网址淲e are very disheartened and angry,B次元官网网址� said Attrill, who was joined by more than a dozen union members on Monday at the Canada Post outlet located on Industrial Avenue W. in Penticton. B次元官网网址淲e just found out about the Industrial Labour Board decision this morning. We didnB次元官网网址檛 know exactly what that meant because no one has seen the final written notice.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like itB次元官网网址檚 a violation of our rights. WeB次元官网网址檙e being forced to go back to work against our will and thatB次元官网网址檚 not right. There hasnB次元官网网址檛 been any kind of negotiated settlement and theyB次元官网网址檙e making us do what we donB次元官网网址檛 want to do without going back to (negotiations).B次元官网网址�

The suggestion the government was ordering unionized workers back to try and salvage goodwill from Canadians who are upset the strike with the Christmas holidays only days away isnB次元官网网址檛 legitimate, said Attrill.

B次元官网网址淐hristmas season is basically over,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淩eally, what are we going to be able to do in the next few days to change things? ItB次元官网网址檚 just an excuse to force us back to work.B次元官网网址�

The 100 members of Local 796 who have been without a paycheque for five weeks are almost unanimously upset and angry theyB次元官网网址檙e being forced to return to work without a negotiated new contract, she said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e all been out here on the picket line for five weeks without a paycheque and thereB次元官网网址檚 no guarantees theyB次元官网网址檙e going to make an agreement in the next little bit,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a really good chance weB次元官网网址檙e going to have to go through this all over again.

B次元官网网址淓veryone on the picket line feels a little bit differently, but for the most part, I think thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of collective anger.B次元官网网址�

This is her third time on strike after 17 years of service with Canada Post and itB次元官网网址檚 infuriating sheB次元官网网址檚 never returned to work after the federal government sat down and negotiated a fair contract, said Attrill.

B次元官网网址淭he first two times we were locked out and now this forcing us back,B次元官网网址� she said.

The unionB次元官网网址檚 demands are not unreasonable as they want a fair wage, decent pension and pay increases that at least match the growing cost of inflation, said Attrill.

B次元官网网址淚t breaks my heart, when I have people (fellow union members) coming to me telling me B次元官网网址業 really need dental work, but I just canB次元官网网址檛 use my benefits because I just canB次元官网网址檛 pay my rentB次元官网网址�, B次元官网网址業 need food and what I have left is just not covering that,B次元官网网址滲次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e need a livable wage. If you look at the wages of other people in our industry, they make far more than we do.B次元官网网址�

Even more maddening is that senior managers make outlandish wages and Canada Post remains a top-heavy organization with far too many managers, while front-line staff struggle to make ends meet, she said.

Doug Ettinger, president and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post, makes big bucks, while front-line workers who have more and more demands put on them with each passing year struggle to get by, she said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l never really know what he makes,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut we do know he gets $450,000 as a base wage, plus his benefits, plus he also sits on the board for Purolator, so he also gets paid from them,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know the exact amount, but itB次元官网网址檚 a lot.

B次元官网网址淥n top of that, we have 20 vice presidents. What company with 55,000 employees, needs 20 vice presidents? ItB次元官网网址檚 ridiculous. WeB次元官网网址檙e so top-heavy, itB次元官网网址檚 ridiculous.B次元官网网址�

From being in contact with other CUPW local presidents, itB次元官网网址檚 been confirmed there is one supervisor for every 10 front-line workers at Canada Post, she said.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 just ridiculous,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his office right here beside us used to be managed by one man and his secretary and we had twice as many employees at that time than we do now.

B次元官网网址淲e had way more routes, because mail volume was way up, and now we have four, full-time supervisors. ItB次元官网网址檚 ridiculous.B次元官网网址�

The blame for the current labour situation can be shared by the federal government, but mostly by Ettinger and senior management at Canada Post, who refuse to bargain in good faith, she said.

B次元官网网址淢ost of the blame lies with Mr. Ettinger as we do fall under his leadership and what heB次元官网网址檚 done to the employees, the people that I work with and represent, is disgusting,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he federal government is also to blame. This is supposed to be a free country and we have constitutional rights such as the right to strike, yet again theyB次元官网网址檝e ordered us back to work.B次元官网网址�

Joining a union, paying union dues and then having your right to strike taken away and being forced back to work by the government is not right, said Attrill.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e taking away our right to fight for what we believe in and what we think is right,B次元官网网址� she said.

Being forced back to work is not going to create a good atmosphere for her union brothers and sisters, especially after not earning any pay for five weeks on the picket line, she said.

B次元官网网址淩ight now, weB次元官网网址檙e just sort of taking the temperature of the members,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 want to just hear what each of them feels about whatB次元官网网址檚 happened and what they think we should do.

B次元官网网址淯ltimately, thatB次元官网网址檚 what a union is. ItB次元官网网址檚 about everybody sticking together and making decisions that are best for all of us.B次元官网网址�

The 55,000 union members deserve pay hikes that allow them to live a decent quality of life and this labour dispute wonB次元官网网址檛 be resolved until Canada Post leadership makes a fair offer, said Attrill.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just asking for pay increases that keep up with the price of living, at a bare minimum,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been continually going backwards. Through Covid, we took a deal thinking we would get the right to actually get a negotiated collective agreement this time.

B次元官网网址淪o we extended the contract for three years and agreed to two per cent the first two years and last year we got nothing, so weB次元官网网址檝e had four per cent over three years and the cost of living has gone up significantly over that time. We donB次元官网网址檛 want to go backwards any more.B次元官网网址�

Union members do feel bad about the interruption of service due to the labour dispute a month before Christmas, but the timing isnB次元官网网址檛 the unionB次元官网网址檚 fault, she said.

B次元官网网址淎t the same time, we hope people realize our workers have families and have to eat too and thatB次元官网网址檚 12 months of the year. We have rent to pay, food to buy, car insurance just like everyone else.B次元官网网址�