Hey Harper – Hands Off Our Post Office

Earlier this year, the federal government announced a strategic review of Canada Post that will determine the future of universal public postal service in this country.

The review will look at basic questions.  What is universal postal service? How much does the universal service obligation cost?  Should our public post office continue to have an exclusive privilege to handle letters so that it can provide universal service, or should the letter market be deregulated and open to competition? And does Canada Post have sufficient latitude or flexibility to perform successfully in a competitive market environment? The last question really means, “Does Canada Post need to reduce your collective agreement rights and benefits in order to compete?”

It is worth noting that the few countries that have fully deregulated their post office by removing the exclusive privilege or monopoly on letters have had many problems. Full deregulation has led to fewer jobs, less public postal service and higher postal rates for people and small businesses.

Even though the government’s strategic review could change the very nature of our postal system, there are no plans for public hearings. The review’s advisory panel is simply consulting with “major stakeholders”. It is asking the public and groups to provide written submissions by September 2, 2008, but most people don’t even know the review is happening. The panel will report to the government by December 2008.

The union is determined to ensure that postal workers and the public have a say in what happens to their post office. We are asking members, allies and the public to send letters, postcards or submissions to the Canada Post Strategic Review by September 2^nd.

 

Time to speak up

Your local will be:

• Handing out fact sheets with information on how the review could affect service and jobs at Canada Post.
• Working with allies in support of universal public postal service.
• Asking you to sign a postcard to the strategic review’s advisory panel. See postcard graphic on this bulletin.

Some locals will also be making YouTube video submissions to the review’s advisory panel.

Watch for upcoming bulletins with updates on what locals and National Office are doing in connection with the review.