Protocol for PSAC members in event of encountering a picket line at Canada Post

Greetings,

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is currently in a difficult round of bargaining with Canada Post. After over 10 months of negotiations and despite the Union's efforts to resolve key issues, the parties are still far apart.

On October 16, 2018, CUPW issued strike notice, with rotating strike action to begin on Monday morning, October 22, 2018, at 00:01 should a negotiated settlement not be achieved.

PSAC members are encouraged to support CUPW in their efforts for a fair collective agreement by participating on picket lines and sending messages of support.

For our members who work at Canada Post, or work in buildings alongside CUPW members, a strike protocol has been developed. PSAC and CUPW have agreed to the following:

• PSAC members will not be prevented from reporting to work at workplaces where a CUPW picket line is in place.
• PSAC will ask members who are required to report to work at a workplace that is being picketed by CUPW to determine whether it is appropriate for them to exercise their right to refuse dangerous work, and therefore, contact their supervisor and union representative rather than cross the picket line.
• CUPW picket captains/ coordinators will determine the entrance which will be used by PSAC members to report to work. PSAC will ask members to show their union cards or employee identification to picket personnel appointed by CUPW to coordinate PSAC members’ access to their workplace.
• PSAC will ask PSAC members to express their solidarity with CUPW by joining CUPW picket lines before or after their work hours and in other ways to be determined by the PSAC and CUPW local leadership.
• PSAC national office and CUPW national office will ensure that all of their respective locals receive copies of this protocol.

In the past, PSAC and CUPW have always supported each other in order to achieve fair collective agreements and I expect that all PSAC members will continue to show our solidarity in this current situation.

In Solidarity,

Jamey Mills, Regional Executive Vice-President, BC