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Door-to-door protected for millions, but fight to reverse the cuts carries on.
Ottawa (25 Jan. 2018) — After a year of review and another year of delays, the federal government finally made public its vision for a renewed Canada Post on January 24. Some 4 million households can now rest easy that their door-to-door service will not be cut, but more than 800,000 are still out in the cold.
Cuts to services halted but little direction for the future of Canada Post
“We, and many allies, made Canada Post an election issue in 2015, and the Liberals were elected on a promise to restore door-to-door and to consult on a new vision for Canada Post,” says Mike Palecek, National President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). “At least this announcement is clear that the service cuts will end. But for close to a million people, it breaks the promise to restore door-to-door, and gives the Crown corporation little direction on some major issues.”
CUPW has campaigned for years — and submitted a great deal of input to the government’s 2016 review of Canada Post — with major emphases on restoring door-to-door delivery, using Canada Post to address climate change, and maintaining the service’s financial self-sufficiency with expanded services including postal banking.
Instead of acting on these recommendations, the government has passed the buck to the Canada Post’s board of directors.
Liberals tell Canada Post to "explore new service options"
But it does open a new door, says Palecek. “In discussions with CUPW, Canada Post has frequently claimed that it could not negotiate new services without government direction. Minister Qualtrough’s announcement asks the corporation to seriously explore new service options."
Palecek added, “The Liberals may have passed up their chance to act, but postal workers will never stop fighting for the future of the service, and our allies will keep supporting that fight.” CUPW has presented demands to Canada Post on restoring door-to-door, greening the postal service, and service expansion. Bargaining talks between CUPW and Canada Post Corporation began in December.