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OTTAWA – Striking Canada Post workers received positive reinforcement today from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). CUPE’s National Executive Board joined the 2,100 strikers – who are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) – on the picket line to offer support and present them with a donation of 10,000 dollars.

The members of CUPE’s National Executive Board took time out from their Ottawa meeting to travel to a rally outside of the Chateau Laurier this afternoon. Canada Post President Moya Green was giving a speech inside the hotel.

The CUPE leaders encouraged the strikers to stand firm against unacceptable changes to their family and sick leaves. Canada Post wants to give a private insurance company access to employees’ personal records and the power to grant or refuse sick leaves.

How on earth can Canada Post say it cares about the health of its employees when it wants to take away their sick leaves from them,” asked Paul Moist, CUPE national president. “You will not accept this nonsense, no one accepts this, and you have CUPE members from coast to coast to coast who support you. Come to your senses, Canada Post, and give these workers a fair collective agreement.”

CUPE also denounces Canada Post’s allegations of irregularities in the vote rejecting the employer’s offer on Monday. According to Moist, it is time for Canada Post to abandon such questionable manoeuvres, which are a waste of taxpayers’ time and money.

CUPE represents more than 570,000 workers across the country in a wide range of sectors, such as health, education, child care, social services, municipalities, energy, media and transportation.

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Information: Sébastien Goulet, CUPE Communications – (613) 237-1590; Allison Gifford, CUPE Communications – (613) 852-1494