Back-to-work legislation characterized as 'punitive' by postal union
The federal government’s back-to-work bill penalizes postal workers and rewards Canada Post for locking out employees and stopping mail delivery nationwide, the union says.
The bill legislates wage increases that fall below Canada Post’s last offer, said CUPW National President Denis Lemelin. Canada Post’s last offer was 1.9 per cent in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and two per cent in 2014, below the 3.3 per cent rate of inflation.
The Tories’ bill would lower that even further with 1.75 per cent in 2011, 1.5 per cent in 2012, two per cent in 2013 and two per cent in 2014.
“Imposing wage increases that are lower than Canada Post’s last offer punishes postal workers for a disruption that was caused by the corporation’s national lockout,” said Lemelin.
“The bill would take $875.50 out of the pockets of an average full-time postal worker during the four years of the agreement. All told, it represents a theft of $35 million from postal workers and their families.”
Lemelin said the government’s heavy-handed interventions will damage labour relations for years to come.
