Campaign heats up

The campaign to stop closures, privatization and deregulation is heating up. Check out the most recent entries from the chronology of events section of the union's website (www.PublicPostOffice.ca)

October 17, 2005

Solid Bloc support
On October 17th Bloc Quebecois members of Parliament (MPs) started presenting some of the 130,000 signatures collected on the petition to stop the Quebec City plant closure. Petitions have been presented by Richard Marceau, Odina Desrochers, Bernard Cleary, Christian Simard, Michel Guimond, Roger Clavet, Guy Côté, and Christiane Gagnon.

In addition, Christian Gagnon has been raising problems associated with the Quebec City plant closure in the House of Commons regularly. So far, the federal government has done little but suggest that no employee will lose his or her job. This stance has been maintained in spite of the 302 positions in Quebec City that are being destroyed and the dozens of temporary workers who are, in fact, losing their jobs.

October 31, 2005

Canada Post Hiring People for Job Cuts and Closures
Canada Post is looking to hire the job-killers who will close plants and post offices, privatize retail outlets and "rationalize" these decisions for the national network review. Two job descriptions posted on the corporation's intranet site list the devious responsibilities such as "develops and implements the process which will identify opportunities for retail network rationalization that will result in the opening, closure or conversion of Corporate outlets." All Canada Post has told the union about its review of the national network is that the mail processing plant in Quebec City would be the first facility under review. Of course, we all know what is now happening to this plant. Management has decided to close it. From the looks of these descriptions, there's more to come. The Retail Network & Facilities Manager also "works with Corporate Communications to develop the programs to notify the public affected by the rationalization of the changes in services." The new employee also "identifies potential "hot spots" where changes will not be well received and works with Communications and other groups to manage the situation to the Corporation's benefit." This is solid evidence for those still doubting the Corporation's intentions. It should be interesting to watch management try to deny their own job postings.

November 3, 2005

Tories would Reconsider Decision to Close
Brian Pallister, post office critic for the Conservative Party, informed fellow members of Parliament in the House of Commons that " a Conservative Party government would review Canada Post's decision to close the Quebec City sorting centre." Pallister told the House, "It is unthinkable to us that the Montreal centre alone can provide consistent service quality across the province."

The people of eastern Quebec deserve quality postal service, equivalent to that provided in the rest of the province." He gave the chair of the Quebec Conservative caucus, Josée Verner, credit for her work on this issue. Pallister also told MPs that the Conservatives intend to carry on this work "in order to meet the needs of Quebeckers and deliver quality public service." (emphasis added)