Post unions make plans to deal with new technology
Postal workers met in Ottawa Canada to discuss the affects of new postal technology. The more than 160 people from 15 unions representing more than 1 million workers came from North America, Asia, the Pacific and Europe to meet and share their information and experiences. The conference heard from several different unions where new technology has been introduced such as sequencing all types of mail for postal delivery. They also heard of new products and new IT systems designed to make mail processing faster and more efficient. The unions talked about the affects this new technology was having on jobs, skills & training, and also the health & safety issues associated with these changes. While the unions know that new technology will bring changed jobs and increased productivity for the postal companies, they also were aware of how this would reduce employment in the sector and also the safety risks associated with some of the new equipment. Several participants spoke of their concerns as to how workers could gain from this new technology and not just lose their jobs or have increased work pressures.
The conference also looked at the driving forces in the industry that are leading to an accelerated introduction of many new technologies, such as the financial crisis and the liberalisation of postal markets. The conference was unanimous in condemning postal companies that have been using the financial crisis as an excuse to cut workers conditions of employment. They said many companies were trying to use the falling mail volumes as a result of the crisis to reduce jobs and demand the immediate introduction of new technology without proper discussion and consultation with workers on the health & safety issues. The unions demanded that companies respect workers rights and negotiate the introduction of new technology including developing the skills and training for workers using the new equipment or displaced from their jobs.
A full description of the conference in French & English can be found on the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) web page at; http://www.cupw.ca/1/1/7/3/4/index1.shtml