Postal Strike

[heymac]

Urban Unit: Negotiation, Not Arbitrator, Is The Answer

March 6, 2012 - 13:45

Urban Postal Unit Negotiations (2011) / Bulletin

Negotiations Bulletin no. 93

It has now been eight months since the Conservative government passed the back-to-work legislation denying urban postal workers their right to negotiate. Since then we have seen the Minister of Labour appoint an arbitrator who was neither bilingual nor qualified with respect to labour relations. His appointment was subsequently overturned by the Federal Court in January 2012. It is now the beginning of March 2012 and we still do not have an arbitrator appointed. According to our contacts in the legal profession, several arbitrators have been approached by Labour Canada and have refused to accept the appointment because they believe the entire process to be tainted and biased against the union.



February 16th Meeting Between The Parties

On February 16th, representatives of the Union and CPC met together with Jacques Lessard from Labour Canada. At the meeting the union once again stated that a negotiated settlement is preferable to arbitration and suggested that the government appoint a special mediator. CPC took the position that Labour Canada should proceed with the appointment of an arbitrator. Mr. Lessard stated he would report to the Minister of Labour. We have still not heard anything from the Minister.



Arbitration Will Resolve Nothing

In the past we have been legislated back to work four times: in 1978, 1987, 1991 and 1997. The first two times there was a decision by a third-party arbitrator. In both instances, the decision did not resolve any of the issues in dispute and these issues became the source of conflict in the next round of bargaining. The next two times we were legislated back to work (1991 and 1997), the parties put aside the arbitration process and negotiated a settlement. In both cases, the following round of bargaining (1994 and 2003) was settled without a strike. Negotiation, not arbitration, is the answer.

In solidarity,

Denis Lemelin
National President and Chief Negotiator

[The Green Barbarian]

Boo-hoo.

In solidarity,

The rest of Canada.

[LoneWolf_53]

:dyinglaughing: :dyinglaughing: :dyinglaughing:
You made me choke on my coffee.

[heymac]

..New Arbitrator Appointed

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has appointed Guy Dufort as the new arbitrator in the negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Mr. Dufort will become the arbitrator effective March 19, 2012 and replaces previous arbitrator, the Honourable Justice Coulter Osborne, who stepped down last fall.

In announcing Mr. Dufort’s appointment, Minister Raitt noted that the arbitration process between Canada Post and CUPW will now start over from the beginning. Minister Raitt also made clear that Mr. Dufort will not be bound by any previous decisions made by Justice Osborne.

A retired labour relations lawyer, Mr. Dufort has worked in a number of economic sectors, including radio and television, the food industry and among aerospace companies. He has argued cases before the Supreme Court of Canada and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Originally from Quebec, Mr. Dufort is fluently bilingual in English and French.

Under the terms of arbitration, Canada Post and CUPW will each present a final offer to Mr. Dufort that includes language with the terms and conditions of a proposed new collective agreement. Mr. Dufort will review both the company and union offers, as well as their supporting arguments, and then select either Canada Post’s or CUPW’s offer in its entirety.

The offer that is chosen will become the new collective agreement. Mr. Dufort’s decision as arbitrator in the case will be final and the new collective agreement will be binding on Canada Post and CUPW. While the arbitration process is ongoing, it will remain business as usual at Canada Post. As per federal government legislation, the terms and conditions of the previous collective agreement are in effect until arbitration is concluded and a new collective agreement comes into force.

Slightly bias I would say. Wouldn't expect anything else from a scumbag.

http://www.westmountexaminer.com/Politics/2008-03-18/article-672942/Conservatives-choose-Guy-Dufort-to-run-in-Westmount/1

[wilde]

The biggest single worry for postal workers is the same issue that has defeated Eastman Kodak. Technology is moving fwd at a rapid pace and Canada Post and it's Union are not adapting. Some very wise and experienced folks are aware that Canada Post management has a dark side and at times it's employees are not treated well. Regrettably, CUPW also has a very dark side and it's members appear powerless to make change.
The sad end to this is that the average employee may need a Union to deal with management and a second Union to deal with it's Union. Most workers just want a job to enjoy and bring home some average wages. Do they want their reps to be preoccupied with Blockade ships and international affairs in general ...does the average member have a say in all this?
Should another strike occur I would hope that the federal government would let the market place settle the dispute. It's long overdue time for the Management of Canada Post and it's Unions to face it's customers. The time is also overdue for CUPW to be deprived of blaming everything on Government.
It's a tough real world out there ...so let the final battle to begin.

[The Green Barbarian]

This CV had me in hysterics this morning. "Brother" Lemelin - and this isn't a cult? Good night - what a joke this union is.

Denis Lemelin was elected as the National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in 2008. He has been involved in the union since 1979.

Brother Lemelin was also the 2nd National Vice-President of the union from 1999 to 2008. As 2nd National Vice-President, Brother Lemelin was responsible for the national education plan including promoting awareness of union policies and the rights and duties of members as set out in the collective agreement.

Previous to his work as 2nd National Vice-President, Brother Lemelin was the director of education in the Quebec region. Working as a postal clerk in Sherbrooke, he was the local’s vice president from 1983-1987. He was also coordinator of the "Struggle 88" campaign.

Originally from Chicoutimi, Quebec, Brother Lemelin worked in textiles before joining the post office.

[logicalview]

It's long overdue time for the Management of Canada Post and it's Unions to face it's customers. The time is also overdue for CUPW to be deprived of blaming everything on Government.
It's a tough real world out there ...so let the final battle to begin.

Ehmen to that.

And I'll through in Air Canada and raise you one.



CORPORATE GREED HURTS EVERYONE :dyinglaughing: (Even when they are chronic money losers.)

But unions don't?

[The Green Barbarian]

CORPORATE GREED HURTS EVERYONE :dyinglaughing: (Even when they are chronic money losers.)

But unions don't?

anyone who says that Air Canada is practicing "corporate greed" has never read their financial statements. "Trying to stay above water despite being forced to employ over-paid entitled cry-baby union workers" is the only way to describe Air Canada's operating philosophy, for at least the past 10 years.

[goatboy]

Originally from Chicoutimi, Quebec, Brother Lemelin worked in textiles before joining the post office.

So Brother Lemelin worked at the Gap?

[MAPearce]

by goatboy » 54 minutes ago

The Green Barbarian wrote:
Originally from Chicoutimi, Quebec, Brother Lemelin worked in textiles before joining the post office.


So Brother Lemelin worked at the Gap

SHOULD have worked at the Gap....

[The Green Barbarian]

SHOULD have worked at the Gap....

he would have tried to unionize the Gap store he was working at, then when they shut it down to avoid unionization, he would have gone on welfare and cried about how bad off he is because there are no jobs. Such is the socialist/unionist mentality.

[Rwede]

The only Gap is the empty one between his ears.

"Brother Lemelin" - what a cult!

[LoneWolf_53]

Denis Lemelin was elected as the National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in 2008. He has been involved in the union since 1979.



Previous to his work as 2nd National Vice-President, Brother Lemelin was the director of education in the Quebec region.

Nuff said. :dyinglaughing:

[Captain Awesome]

"Brother Lemelin" - what a cult!

How can you misspell such an easy 4-letter word...

[The Green Barbarian]

How can you misspell such an easy 4-letter word...

which word is mis....oh I see what you did there.... :sillygrin: