Blog: Getting Ready for Bargaining

It’s been a hot summer for the planet and for the labour movement.

It seems like we are experiencing once in a lifetime weather events every month – from raging wildfires across the country, to tornadoes touching down in suburban neighbourhoods, and record flooding in the Maritimes – it’s heartbreaking to see so many communities lose so much and have to rebuild their lives.

The extreme weather has also made working outdoors much more difficult. Letter carriers, RSMCs and CUS members worked through poor air quality, heat waves, and other difficult weather-related conditions. CUPW members are proud workers, whether we’re postal workers or couriers, cleaners or emergency medical dispatchers in the private sector, or other workers, but it’s important for us all to be mindful and careful as you continue to work through these unprecedented weather events.

We’ve also witnessed a resurgence of workers taking back their power and saying no to bad contracts, in what many have called “hot labour summer.” Workers everywhere - from port workers in British Columbia, nurses in Prince Edward Island, grocery store workers in Ontario, and federal workers across the country – have used their free and fair collective bargaining rights to strike to improve their working conditions and wages. I’ve joined many workers on the picket lines, and I am inspired by their determination and solidarity.

Of course, the work of CUPW members continues, too.  As you’re aware, we’re getting ready for what will likely be a tough round of bargaining. I attended many regional conferences across the country to hear from members about your worries, your issues, and what we need to achieve through collective bargaining to make your lives better. Hearing about your lives helps me to better represent you and advocate for what you need.   

Negotiating a good contract takes hard work and the full participation of the membership. We recently completed the program of demands, and you will soon be receiving the program of demands in your mailboxes in the next issue of Perspective. Although we could not include every demand from every region in the final document, all voices were heard and included in the creation of the final program. Ratification meetings will be taking place throughout the Fall and it’s important for all members to attend your local meetings and vote on the program of demands. This is your chance to vote on your future and the future of the public postal service.

I have witnessed many rounds of negotiations over the years, and I know how much work and energy goes into it – but it’s also very rewarding to know that your work can improve people’s lives. Congratulations to Francois Senneville on his appointment as Lead negotiator for the RSMC bargaining unit and Lana Smidt, who will be the Lead negotiator for the Urban Operations unit.  

I hope you all enjoy the last days of summer, and head into fall and into bargaining with an abundance of energy and excitement for the task ahead. A great way to get energized and to feel the power of the labour movement is to participate in Labour Day activities in your communities. The Canadian Labour Congress has put together a list of events across the country. I encourage everyone to find an event and attend!  We need to mobilize, and we need to support each other. This is how we make gains. We take nothing for granted. We are 60,000 strong and together we are unstoppable.