Editor,
A few years back, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that workers in Canada have the right to collectively bargain over wages and conditions. The back-to-work-legislation just passed by the federal government flies in the face of this ruling as it tips the balance between Canada Post and postal workers against the workers. This makes it hard for CUPW, the postal workers union, to negotiate an agreement that would narrow the wage gaps between urban and rural but also between male and female postal workers. CUPW also negotiates improved health and safety standards, which is of crucial importance as a new management system introduced by Canada Post led to an explosion of injuries, over 7,000 injuries within just a year. As a community, we owe our local posties and their fellow workers across the country our solidarity.
Ingo Schmidt