News

On December 11, Canada Post announced a series of drastic proposals to cut postal services to millions of Canadians in a purported plan to return Canada Post to financial viability. The proposals include eliminating door-to-door delivery service in urban areas and replacing it with “community mailboxes”, replacing post offices with franchise postal units and increasing postage rates by as much as 70 percent.

Initial reports suggest the proposals would eliminate between 6,000 and 8,000 staff and reduce postal services for millions of Canadians.

UNI affiliate the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has decried the proposals as “short-sighted and foolish” and has vowed to resist them.

CUPW has for many years fervently advocated for more innovative solutions to expand postal services and maintain a sustainable Canada Post. The union has also long advocated for a return of the postal banking system and has garnered growing support across Canadian society.

CUPW President Denis Lemelin said in statement, “We are extremely concerned that these changes will send Canada Post into a downward spiral…Where many postal operators are responding to a changing postal business with innovation, Canada Post is relying on cuts and rate increases.”

UNI Post and Logistics reiterates its ongoing support for robust, universal postal services. “UNI has long held that while postal operators must continue to adapt to the new realities of our business, it must be with a mind toward developing innovative solutions to expand postal services and in constructive dialogue with the workers who deliver those services. Cuts in services are simply not the way forward.” says Stephen DeMatteo, Head of UNI Post and Logistics Global Union.