CPC Ordered To Postpone Quebec Closure

In a landmark decision, arbitrator Guy Dulude has ordered Canada Post Corporation to postpone further moves towards closing the Quebec City postal plant until they have complied with the terms of Article 29 of the CUPW urban operations collective agreement.

Dulude, who is one of Canada’s most respected arbitrators, ruled that Canada Post had violated the terms of the CUPW collective agreement by not providing the union with the information required under Article 29.

CPC will now have to provide CUPW with information and consult with the Union. In clause 29.02 of the collective agreement, CPC is also required to eliminate all adverse effects on employees that might result from the change. The negotiations will commence after CPC has complied with the contract and provided the required information. If the Union and CPC cannot come to an agreement, the unresolved issues can be referred to an arbitrator.

Time for CPC to Reconsider

Today I telephoned CPC President Moya Greene to discuss the implications of the Dulude decision. I repeated our belief that the decision to close the Quebec City plant and to process Quebec City’s mail in Montreal does not make any sense. Once again, I asked Ms. Greene to reconsider the entire decision in light of the decision of such a senior and respected arbitrator.

It is unacceptable that the first major operational decision taken by Ms. Greene as CPC President would be to violate the rights of CUPW and hundreds of postal workers in Quebec City. This decision gives Ms. Greene the chance to turn this around.

Time for the Tories to Honour Promises

I have also written incoming Prime Minister Stephen Harper and asked him to honour the promises made by the Conservatives that they would reconsider the closure of the Quebec City plant.

In November 2005, then Conservative postal critic Brian Pallister stated in the House of Commons, that “a Conservative Party government would review Canada Post’s decision to close the Quebec City sorting centre”. Pallister told the House: “It is unthinkable to us that the Montreal centre alone can provide consistent service quality across the province. The people of eastern Quebec deserve quality postal service, equivalent to that provided in the rest of the province. The Conservative Party, therefore opposes the decision.”

Pallister also told MPs that the Conservatives intend to carry on the work of Josée Verner, incoming MP for Louis-Saint-Laurent, in opposing the closure “in order to meet the needs of Quebeckers and deliver quality public service”.

National Impact of Decision

The ruling also has important implications for the entire postal network. Arbitrator Dulude confirmed the Union’s position that when considering any technological changes, such as plant closures, CPC must notify the union “as far as possible in advance” of its intention and provide the Union with information. This provision enables the Union to represent the membership and also to defend public postal service from unnecessary service cutbacks.

In July 2005, CPC announced that it would be reviewing the national network, including all mechanized mail processing plants. CUPW has repeatedly asked for information concerning this review.

Campaign to Save Quebec City Plant Continues

CUPW will be continuing our campaign to stop the closure of Quebec City and the loss of over 300 jobs. In the coming days, we will be communicating with the over 800 municipalities that have already passed resolutions opposing postal closures and demanding an open process of public consultation prior to any changes in the network. We will be communicating to the public through the news media and will meet with MPs from all political parties. In the next few weeks, we are also meeting with representatives from the large volume mailers to discuss our concerns over the direction of Canada Post, the closure of Quebec City, and the refusal of the Corporation to provide information to the Union and to the public concerning its overall plans.