Letter to Stephen Harper - Re: Arbitrator Orders Canada Post to Postpone Closure of Quebec City Mail Processing Plant

PRIORITY COURIER

February 2, 2006

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Harper:

Subject: Arbitrator Orders Canada Post to Postpone Closure of Quebec City Mail Processing Plant

I am writing further to my letter dated Feb 1, 2006, to let you know that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has just won an important arbitration, which effectively postpones the closure of the mail processing plant in Quebec City. I am enclosing this decision for your information.

The CUPW hopes that this decision will reinforce the Conservative Party's opposition to the plant closure and provide you with one more reasons to instruct Canada Post to stop the closure.

I would like to point out that the enclosed arbitration decision is a huge victory, not just for our members, but also for the more than 800 municipalities that have passed resolutions opposing post office and plant closures. The decision says that Canada Post must notify the union "as far as possible in advance" of its intention to make technological changes such as closures.

This will help the public and postal workers defend public postal service before it is too late.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours truly,

Deborah Bourque
National President
Canadian Union of Postal Workers

Encl.

c.c. CUPW National Executive Board
Regional Education and Organization Officer’s
National Union Representatives
Specialists
All CUPW locals
All members of Parliament
Gilles Duceppe, Leader, Bloc Quebecois
Bill Graham, Interim Leader, Liberal Party, House of Commons
Jack Layton, Leader, New Democratic Party
Paul Martin, Leader, Liberal Party
Leslie Schous, President, Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association
Richard Des Lauriers, President, Union of Postal Communications Employees, Public Service Alliance of Canada