In the coming months, critical decisions about the future of Canada Post are going to be made. As posted on its “Consulting with Canadians” website, the Federal Government wants to “redefine” its “vision” for Canada Post to reflect a changing “postal industry landscape”. The notice goes as far as to call into question Canada Post’s very “sustainability”. 

According to the National Post, the Government is “exploring all options” to make Canada Post “efficient and financially sustainable for the long term”. 

The review is scheduled for October until next March.  

As of right now, we have very few details about what the review will look like, but our position is that any review of Canada Post must be fully public and transparent. Everyone deserves to have their say in the public post office’s future.  

WHAT’S AT STAKE: WORKING CONDITIONS AND JOB SECURITY

This will not be the first time we will face a mandate review of Canada Post. However, as they have in the past, the recommendations the review makes could have huge impacts on our working conditions and job security, both good and bad.  

In 1996, thousands of admail workers and CUPW members lost their jobs because the review recommended CPC get out of competitive services, like admail and parcels. In 2018, the Government told Canada Post to end its community mailbox conversion program. 

WHAT CANADA POST WANTS: CUTBACKS

For much of the past year, Canada Post has been laying the groundwork for massive service cutbacks. The Corporation has taken every chance it can to play up its financial condition, blaming an “outdated” regulatory framework “built for a previous era”. There’s no question it will use this mandate review to push for this agenda. 

Canada Post has already publicly revealed much of what it wants. In its second submission to the Industrial Inquiry Commission, Canada Post made the case for:  

Gutting the rural moratorium on post office closures Franchising out and closing corporate post offices Cutting letter mail service standards and delivery frequency Axing door-to-door delivery in favour of CMBs 

WE MUST BE PREPARED!

The challenge we face is a big one, but that’s no reason to back down.  

Instead, we need to show the Employer and the Government we’re ready to take this fight on. We need to work with our allies in labour and the community to build political pressure in support of our vision for expanded postal services.  

As a first step, we’re asking members to send a letter to the Minister responsible for Canada Post, Joël Lightbound, demanding any review be thorough, transparent and public, with opportunities for public hearings in every region of the country. You can find a template letter to download or send digitally at our website.

As the review progresses, we’ll all have our part to do.  

Our jobs matter. Our voices matter. Let’s make them heard! 

In Solidarity,