Completely unnecessary lockout and service interruption the result of ‘toxic combination of ideology and ego’
Edmonton – Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra should be removed from his post for deliberately engineering a lockout and service disruption says the leader of Alberta’s largest labour organization.
In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan laid out the case for turfing the Harper-appointed head of Canada’s mail service. Canada Post is set to lock out 54,000 workers on Sunday after failing to negotiate a new contract with their union. McGowan will comment on the situation and the letter at a Postal Workers’ information picket on Thursday, June 30 at 2:30 p.m. at the Edmonton Mail Processing Plant.
“Why is Mr. Chopra still in charge of these negotiations when the Prime Minister has already asked him to resign?” McGowan said in comments to the media. “His contract was renewed by Stephen Harper right after the Conservatives had lost the election – Deepak Chopra does not have a legitimate mandate to carry out his ideologically driven assault on workers.”
In the letter, McGowan highlighted how Mr. Chopra’s actions have been at odds with the Liberal Party’s public commitments to protect Canadian postal services, to champion pay equity for women, and to provide increased economic opportunities for minorities.
“Chopra’s actions over the past few months demonstrate that he has learned nothing from the recent election – an election in which Canadians voted overwhelming for parties that promised to preserve, protect and even expand Canada’s postal services,” McGowan wrote in the letter. “Unfortunately, Chopra is still running Canada Post as if the Conservatives who appointed him are still in power. As long as Chopra remains in charge, conflict will trump consensus and conservative ideology will take priority over what’s best for Canada Post and the millions of Canadians who rely upon it.”
McGowan took aim at Chopra’s toxic approach to labour relations, his rejection of union offers to continue negotiations, and unwillingness to look at solutions that would increase the long-term profitability and viability of Canada Post.
“The Liberal government is in the process of conducting a major public review on Canada Post, and Mr. Chopra won’t accept the union’s offer of a few extra weeks to see what direction the government might take,” McGowan said. “This work stoppage does not need to happen. This is a crisis created by one man, his ideology and his ego.”
McGowan’s letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can be read here.
Who: Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan
Edmonton Postal Workers and allies
Where: Edmonton Mail Processing Plant (12135-149 St. Edmonton)
When: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30
MEDIA CONTACT:
Olav Rokne, Communications Director, Alberta Federation of Labour at 780.218.4351 (cell) or via e-mail orokne@afl.org.