Strategic Review to Examine Deregulation of Postal Services

On May 9, 2008 CUPW officers met with the members and staff of the Canada Post Strategic Review Committee. The Chairperson of the Committee, Robert Campbell confirmed to us that the review will be examining the issue of Canada Post’s exclusive privilege to deliver addressed lettermail. The Committee will also define which postal services must be provided by Canada Post Corporation under the Universal Service Obligation and examine the cost of providing these services.

It is very possible that this Strategic Review will have a very serious and long lasting impact on the future of every worker employed by Canada Post Corporation.

Our meeting with the advisory panel did not resolve the very many serious problems with the process that has been imposed by the Conservative government.

 

Transparency and Access

At the meeting, the Union raised several concerns that we have about the Review. We expressed our concerns regarding the lack of transparency and closed nature of the process. We told the advisory panel members that we had written to the Minister suggesting that there should be public hearings similar to the past two CPC Mandate Reviews which occurred in 1985 and 1996. We asked the Committee to join us in this effort to increase transparency and make the process more accessible to the public. We also asked if the advisory panel was willing to consider or willing to ask the government to consider extending timeline for submissions to November 30, 2008 so that ordinary people and public interest groups have time to examine the issues and provide their input. The advisory panel said that the decisions to have closed hearings and the timetable were taken by Minister Cannon and that they could not be changed because the government needed their report before its next budget. They did not agree to approach the Minister with a view to getting public hearings or an extension on submissions.

 

Independence

We asked how the advisory panel could be considered to be independent when the chairperson, Robert Campbell, is known internationally as being in favour of deregulation. In the past, Campbell has published two books on postal services in which he has advocated for the end of postal monopolies.  In 2002 he published a paper entitled It’s Time for Serious Postal Reform in which he stated “Canada’s postal system should pursue both liberalization and deregulation. Liberalization should gradually remove the exclusive privilege”. Campbell stated that he had written the previous articles as an academic and added that his role as an academic is completely different from his role as a member of the government’s advisory panel meaning he now has a different responsibility which is to make recommendations to the government. Both of the other members of the advisory panel said they had never written on postal issues. Nicole Beaudoin said that she always approaches subject from the perspective of a business woman.  Daniel H. Bader said he had once worked in a rural store that had a postal outlet in the back and he had no bias about the issues.

 

Information

The union explained how the last two CPC Mandate Reviews had made recommendations concerning our collective agreement rights and labour costs based on incorrect information provided by Canada Post management. We asked the panel to provide us with copies of any information provided by Canada Post. The panel will consider this request. They also said they would hire an independent consultant to review the costing information provided by CPC.

 

The Public Post office Deserves a Public Process

The union has written Minister Lawrence Cannon demanding that he change the mandate of the advisory panel and that he provide a truly transparent process which would encourage public involvement. We have not yet received a reply.

 

Postal Workers Must Be Involved

During the coming months, CUPW will be very involved with the Strategic Review of Canada Post Corporation. We will submit our own brief and encourage other groups to do likewise. We will also organize to ensure that the public is made aware of the process. We will not let the Conservative government destroy our public postal service without a fight.