Canada Post Profits: Workers Eat Cake - Canada Post 24th Anniversary Rally - October 16, 2005

Ottawa-The Canadian Union of Postal Workers will protest as Canada Post celebrates its 24th anniversary with job losses and closures. Postal workers will respond to Canada Post's "let them eat cake" attitude by cutting a cake with a special anniversary message.

When: Sunday, October 16, 2005 - Noon

Where: Canada Post Corporation, 2701 Riverside Drive, Ottawa Ontario (corner of Heron Road).

Speakers:

·Deborah Bourque, National President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers

·Odina Desrocher, Post office critic, Bloc Quebecois

·Pierre Ducasse, Special Advisor on Quebec Issues, New Democratic Party

·Leslie Schous, National President, Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association

·Richard Des Laurier, Acting President, Union of Postal Communications Employees, Public Service Alliance of Canada

·Hassan Yussuff, Secretary-Treasurer, Canadian Labour Congress

The Post Office Department was converted into a crown corporation called Canada Post on October 16, 1981 to improve service and labour relations, and make postal operations financially self-sufficient.

Despite record profits, Canada Post has decided to close a plant in Quebec City, eliminating over 300 jobs, as part of a review of services across Canada. Since 2001, Canada Post has permanently or "temporarily" closed approximately 50 rural post offices even though there is a moratorium on post office closures in rural and small towns. More plant and post office closures are expected.

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Attn Photo and News Editors:

Photos will be available on CNW Sunday by 3 p.m.

Speakers will be available for interviews.