Some cheques to be delivered during labour dispute
Postal workers will continue to deliver cheques to pensioners and social-assistance recipients even in the event of a national strike or lockout next week.
With the deadline to reach a settlement on May 24 at midnight, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has announced it offered to deliver pension and social assistance cheques early in negotiations with Canada Post.
The details have now been worked out.
Volunteers from the union will deliver federal Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and child benefits cheques nationwide.
Volunteers will deliver provincial social-assistance cheques in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
Some provincial and territorial governments, including B.C., Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Yukon and Nunavut, opted out of the plan.
“We are pleased that we were able to make this agreement with Canada Post to deliver pension and social assistance cheques,” said Denis Lemelin, national president and chief negotiator of CUPW.
“The agreement shows that we can negotiate solutions and we will continue to try to negotiate solutions.”
The two sides remain far apart on many issues.
Canada Post wants new hires take a wage cut and wants to implement a new sick-leave plan for employees.
The union wants greater share of profits, safer working conditions and a say on how the postal service expands in the future.
“We have one signed agreement. We are aiming for another — a decent collective agreement that will preserve good postal service and jobs,” Lemelin said.
COMMENTS
Let's keep comments:
We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters.
We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.