Magnifying glasses in hand, members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) climbed over police barricades outside Canada Post headquarters today in a bid to search the crown corporation for its “strategic planning” documents.
Dubbed “Operation Transparency”, and led by CUPW President Deborah Bourque, about 20 postal workers defied Canada Post and police requests to stay away from the Ottawa building. All were arrested for trespass and later released.
The documents, kept secret so far, detail plant closures and job cuts to the country’s public post office. The union is fighting for transparency, fairness and, at minimum, a chance to be consulted in any decision-making.
CUPE President Paul Moist was at hand to cheer them on and bring solidarity from CUPE’s 550,000 members.
Moist called on Canada Post President Moya Greene to publicly release all relevant documents.
“Greene can’t keep these documents private. Canada Post is a public service and the public has a right to know the future of postal services,” Moist said to a cheering crowd of about 250 people.
“This union, the postal workers, are here to defend the public post office, and CUPE supports them,” Moist said.
Canada Post has already announced plans to close the Quebec City mail sorting plant, with no consultations with workers.
According to Bourque, their campaign calls for “a moratorium on plant and post office closures, the release of strategic planning documents, and a public debate on any plans to reduce, privatize or deregulate our public postal service.”
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