Rotating strike action by postal workers at selected cities turned into a full lockout by Canada Post Tuesday night.
Employees with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers at the Glanford Avenue plant in Saanich were told by Canada Post to stop working around 8 p.m.
B次元官网网址淭hey were informed they have to cease working and leave the premises,B次元官网网址� said Janet Barney, president of CUPW Victoria. B次元官网网址�(Canada Post is) saying that theyB次元官网网址檝e lost $100 million (since the rotating strike began June 3), which weB次元官网网址檇 like to see how they calculated that B次元官网网址� we donB次元官网网址檛 believe itB次元官网网址檚 true.B次元官网网址�
The corporationB次元官网网址檚 decision halts urban mail delivery and could lead Parliament to consider back-to-work legislation as early as next week.
B次元官网网址淎 lockout is the best way to bring a timely resolution to this impasse and force the union to seriously consider the proposals that address the declining mail volumes and the $3.2-billion pension deficit,B次元官网网址� Canada Post said in a statement Tuesday.
B次元官网网址淚f we allow the uncertainty created by the rotating strikes to continue, our ability to remain financially self-sufficient and not become a burden on Canadian taxpayers will be in jeopardy.B次元官网网址�
Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt told CTV B次元官网网址 her staff will reassess the impact to the economy and public interest before contemplating legislating the 48,000 urban postal workers back to work.
Canada Post had already cut service to three days a week in response to shrinking demand as uncertainty from the strike led customers to use competing services or switch to online alternatives.
In a statement, the CUPW said management was B次元官网网址渋rresponsibleB次元官网网址� to lock out the workers.
B次元官网网址淐anada Post is reneging on its responsibility to the public to deliver mail that has been paid for. We committed to deliver pension and social assistance cheques and we intend to fulfil that commitment.B次元官网网址�
The union had asked for wage hikes of 3.3 per cent in the first year and 2.75 per cent in each of the next three years.
Canada Post offered a four-year contract lifting pay 1.9 per cent in each of the first three years and two per cent in the fourth.
Issues at the table include changing technology, job procedures and concessions on wages and benefits for new hires.
Postal workers currently make at least $23 an hour, however Canada Post wanted the starting wage for new hires to begin at $19 an hour.
Canada Post says it must address labour costs as a result of a 17-per-cent drop in letter-mail business since 2006 due to a rise in online bill payments and other electronic communications.
B次元官网网址� with files from Kyle Slavin
editor@saanichnews.com
