MP blasts Canada Post
By Alex Atamanenko
Alex Atamanenko, MP, (BC Southern Interior) says that the lock-out imposed by Canada Post management was a draconian tactic designed to trample the rights of Canadian workers.
Although the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) had initiated rotating strikes, postal workers agreed to keep the mail moving. Once the lock-out was announced, the Conservatives immediately tabled back-to-work legislation
“The only reason there was no postal service across this country was because the government sanctioned locking the doors of post offices,” Atamanenko said. “If the government truly felt that Canada Post was such an important and necessary service, then why did they effectively lock the employees out?” New Democrats rose en masse and unified to show the government that taking away the rights of Canadians is not acceptable. “The extended debate in the House of Common was necessary so that parties could explore a settlement and so that the most negative aspects of the imposed contract could be amended. We came very close to doing this,” he said. CUPW national president Denis Lemelin said that, due to the NDP’s intervention, time was allotted to resume negotiations between CUPW and Canada Post. Regrettably, the negotiations ultimately failed. The back-to-work legislation offers less in salary than what Canada Post had offered, brings in a two-tiered wage system and effectively limits the power of the arbitrator to reach an acceptable settlement. “I believe that this unfortunate tactic by the Conservatives is only the beginning. This is an attack on our middle class and fits with Harper’s narrow political agenda of privatization, deregulation and less government. It is crucial for all Canadians to unite and oppose the further erosion of our democratic rights,” concluded Atamanenko.
