MP pens letter in defense of Castlegar's post office
By Alex Atamanenko MP
Mr. Deepak Chopra, President
Canada Post Corporation
2701 Riverside Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0B1
Dear Mr. Chopra,
I have just learned from the Castlegar local of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that Canada Post has served notice of its intent to open a postal franchise office within one half of a kilometer from the main corporate post office located at 1011-4th Street.
Apparently, Canada Post has also advised that it intends to “review and reduce” the retail counters and services at existing corporate outlets.
According to CUPW when Canada Post is planning on closing down the main office, one of the first steps is to set up a private franchise to take away revenue. It can then claim that the corporate office is no longer viable.
It is my understanding that Castlegar is protected by the moratorium against closures under the Canadian Postal Service Charter. The workers at our main post office are very concerned that if a franchise is established within close proximity to the corporate office, this will soon justify reductions in service at the main office.
I have been told that Canada Post is reviewing its retail operations across the country and has already begun removing a number of tills at the front counter. This, of course, creates line-ups and unnecessary delays for customers.
On behalf of our postal workers and the citizens of our community, I strongly urge you to ensure that our main post office remains a strong viable operation with adequate dedicated personnel to serve its customers. Introducing a franchise at such close proximity interferes with this.
It is important to understand that good-paying union jobs are one of the pillars of our small rural communities and contribute to small businesses as well as other aspects of our economy.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
Alex Atamanenko, MP
BC Southern Interior
C: Honourable Stephen Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport)
Olivia Chow, NDP Critic for Canada Post
Mayor Lawrence Chernoff, City of Castlegar
Cindy McCallum, Vice-President, CUPW Castlegar Local
John Bail, CUPW National Director Pacific Region
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