CPC DESTROYS 302 JOBS IN QUEBEC CITY: WHO IS NEXT?

The "New Era" in Canada Post has struck with a vengeance. On August 3rd, 2005 CPC management informed the Union that it will close the Quebec Letter Processing Plant at 300 Saint-Paul Street in Quebec City and eliminate 302 CUPW jobs.

The operations currently performed in Quebec City will be transferred to the Leo Blanchette Plant in Montreal.

The vast majority of jobs that will be lost are full-time. Currently CPC plans to destroy 192 PO-4 full-time, 44 PO-4 part-time, 48 PO-5 and 18 GLMAM/EL positions for a total of 280 person years in Quebec. At the end of the two year project CPC estimates it will add 125 person years in Montreal.

Record Profits Lead to Record Job Losses

This attack on the Quebec City postal workers is an insult to all postal workers who have worked to make CPC a success. During the past 5 years postal workers have helped CPC earn over $700 million in profits. Now we are rewarded with the destruction of hundreds of jobs.
No one can claim that service will be improved by trucking mail all the way from Quebec City to the west end of Montreal for processing. So the only possible motivation for the change is ever greater profits on the backs of postal workers.

So Much for Openness, Consultation, and Respect for the Collective Agreement

Article 29 of the CUPW - Canada Post Urban Operations Collective Agreement requires CPC to notify CUPW of changes "as far as possible in advance of its intention" to introduce changes. Yet CUPW was only notified after CPC top management had taken the decision. We were only provided with details at the same time that CPC released a press statement and met with the employees. At her very first meeting with representatives of the national union, Moya Greene, the new president of Canada Post assured us that she wanted the same "no surprises" relationship as her predecessor. Instead the very first thing we get is a policy of "no information". Instead of notice and consultation we get a predetermined decision taken without any consultation.

Disaster for Quebec Postal Workers and the Community.

This decision is a disaster for CUPW members who work in the Quebec City post office. When the work is gone regular employees will be re-assigned to jobs in other classifications and temporary workers will lose their jobs. Day shift positions will be destroyed and workers will have to travel greater distances to work.

The loss of over 300 stable unionized jobs will have a terrible economic impact on Quebec City and surrounding communities.

Many Facilities Are Vulnerable

This new "cut and thrust" approach by CPC management will have negative implications for many facilities across the country. Canada Post has made it clear that all mechanized mail processing plants are under review. Job security is always on the bargaining table but will certainly be a major issue in the 2007 round of negotiations if these are Canada Post's plans.

CUPW Will Fight These Closures

This is not the first time that CUPW has had to fight to keep jobs and services in our communities. CUPW will work with the labour movement, community organizations, activists and political leaders to stop the closure of the Quebec City plant and other post offices across Canada and Quebec. We demand that the federal government order the post office to overturn this unjust and unwise decision.

We Demand Answers

CUPW demands that CPC management and the federal government come clean about the rationale and the timing of this decision. Who made this decision? How much money does CPC expect to save? Why was the announcement only made after parliament has recessed for the summer? Why did the Liberal government decide that Quebec City should be the first target? What will be the impact on service to the public?

All of these questions need to be fully answered. It is not enough for the new administration of Canada Post to talk about openness and communication. It is time for answers. It is time for the truth.

It is time to put jobs and service before profits.

In solidarity,