“Postal workers are helping to raise the bar for all Canadians” – Gil McGowan

EDMONTON – The Alberta Federation of Labour is expressing its full support for postal workers at a critical moment—critical not just for Canada Post but for all workers in Canada. Last week AFL president, Gil McGowan, urged the federal government in an open letter to “take the high road of good jobs and fair wages as opposed to the ‘Amazon low road’ of inadequate wages and precarious employment.”

Today, McGowan and AFL Secretary Treasurer, Cori Longo, who was a postal worker and CUPW member for ten years, are reiterating the importance of taking the high road while warning that demonizing postal workers risks undermining a key Canadian institution.

“Canada Post is one of this nation’s vital institutions, like the CBC and the railways,” said McGowan. “It’s time for the federal government to value it as a public service, because it can do things that no private corporation can—offering critical services to all residents in all regions and in all towns and villages, big and small. None of this is possible without Canada Post’s dedicated, diligent workforce. At a time when the federal government is trying to forge national unity and protect Canadian jobs, it makes no sense to erode the quality of postal workers’ jobs.”

On May 21, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) received Canada Post’s most recent proposals, which are currently under review by the union. A particularly contentious request by the employer is to increase the use of part-time work. The AFL, which counts 10 CUPW locals among its affiliates, is concerned that any erosion of full-time work in such a vital crown corporation sets a dangerous precedent in Canada.

“Let’s not forget why workers join unions in the first place—it’s to protect themselves and to improve their way of life, to get more than the basics,” said Cori Longo. “Postal workers have a proud history of raising the bar for all Canadians. Their 1981 strike delivered 17 weeks of paid maternity leave, which also helped improve parental benefits across the country. Let’s continue raising the bar and protect the union advantage.”

McGowan is encouraging all workers to stand in solidarity with CUPW members.

“The union has done everything it can to avoid another strike, including asking for more time to negotiate—a request Canada Post management rejected,” said McGowan. “But some things are worth striking over, and protecting full-time employment from erosion to part-time employment is clearly one of those things. If national institutions like Canada Post refuse to set a higher standard for its workers, it sets all workers up for a race to the bottom. Canadian workers deserve better.”

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Laurence Miall
Director of Communications and Campaigns, AFL
Phone: 780-977-8165
Email: lmiall@afl.org