Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are back on the picket lines after the federal government yesterday announced that it had accepted all the recommendations of the Kaplan Report.
The means that Ottawa is lifting bans on the installation of new community mail boxes in areas where door-to-door delivery still takes place, and will allow Canada Post to close some post offices.
Within minutes of the federal minister’s announcement, CUPW members in this provinces returned to the picket line.
Mike Browne, a forklift operator with Canada Post (VOCM News)
Among them is Mike Browne, a forklift operator at the main postal sorting station on Kenmount Road, and Vice President of the union local in St. John’s. For Browne, working at Canada Post is a family affair, as his wife also works at the corporation.
He echoes concerns about CEO Doug Ettinger and Canada Post’s corporate and management structure.
“When I first started back here in 1998 we had 120 letter carrier routes, now we’re down to probably 47? And there’s more supervisors and managers here than what there was back then.”
He says Canada Post is top-heavy with management and the decisions being made don’t make sense.
He referenced claims that Canada Post is losing money, “We own 91 per cent or more of Purlolator. Our CEO Mr. Doug Ettinger, is also on the Board of Directors for Purolator. So, if..me and my wife say wanted to get a second job working at Purolator to earn a bit of extra income? Guess what? We’re not allowed ’cause it’s a conflict of interest.”
(VOCM News)
