UPCE Strike 2008

Thunder Bay | Sudbury | London | Kingston | Toronto

UPCE STRIKE 2008

For more information, please visit our National website CLICK HERE

UPCE Toronto Flying Squad 'AKA' The Friendly Flying Huggets

Click here to see the Friendly Flying Huggets.

PSAC Ontario Region Hardship Fund

Greetings Sisters & Brothers:

Across the Ontario Region and across the country, PSAC members are rallying to support you in your fight for a fair and equitable collective agreement. Members from all Locals have received notice of where the picket lines are located and have been encouraged to show their support.

I want to ensure that you are aware of the Ontario Region Hardship Fund. Please see below, the guidelines and application form to access funds if needed. This is now also available on our website www.ontario.psac.com/, please feel free to pass this along to other UPCE members.

As a Union, as a family and as a region, we stand together, and will fight against this employer to achieve a successful and fair settlement.

In Strength & In Solidarity,

Gerry Halabecki
Regional Executive Vice-President, Ontario
Public Service Alliance of Canada

Hardship Strike Fund Information

December 18, 2008

Occupation of Canada Post Corporation Administrative Offices

On Wednesday, December 17th, 2008, UPCE members from South Central, the UPCE London flying squad, CUPW members , along with PSAC REVP Gerry Halebecki visited the Canada Post Corporation Administrative offices in downtown Toronto, at 1 Dundas Street W. Fifteen members went up to the 8th floor in order to demand a meeting with either Moya Green or Mary Travesty and as many remained at the ground level, distributing the latest PSAC press release. CPC representatives met briefly with the peaceful, but determined members. Members sat down in the hallway, talked sang and waited! They even tried calling her Ottawa office, but she was unavailable. The CPC representatives came back out to inform us that they had no idea where either Moya or Mary were, so they could not meet the member's request. But they managed to locate the Toronto Police. When the The members just joined the picketers outside, enjoyed some warm drinks, some hot street-side pizza and great conversations with the public. PSAC members who worked close by at Service Canada and Passport came by to show support during their lunch breaks. Sure, this hardy band of members did not stop mail today but they swooped in on an unsuspecting CPC office and although Moya/Mary weren't there, the members were certain that they heard of the visit!

December 8, 2008

CUPW Local 548 Shows Support

The Hamilton Local 548 of CUPW Executive supported the PSAC picket lines again yesterday at the Hamilton Mail Processing Plant in Stoney Creek and its membership passed a motion at a membership meeting on Saturday to contribute $1000.00 to the PSAC strike fund. Here is the link of pictures we posted on our Local website giving the PSAC picket Captain, Tony Codispodi the cheque. If the strike lasts into January 2009 the motion passed empowers the Hamilton Local to contribute another $500.00. We have sent e-mails to some of other Locals in our region, and Toronto Local which is the largest in Canada, challenging them to match or exceed our contribution.

Click on link below to see pictures -

http://cupwhamilton.org/2008/12/hamilton-shows-its-solidarity-with-upce/

Click on link below to see Thank You from Gerry Halabecki -

http://cupwhamilton.org/2008/12/psacupce-sends-their-thanks-to-local-548/

In solidarity,

Mark Platt
President, CUPW
Hamilton Local 548

Dec. 2, 2008

UPCE Members Meet & Strategize

On Sunday, November 30, 2008, UPCE Locals 108 & 104 held a joint general membership meeting at the USW Union Hall in Mississauga, where members enjoyed both hot food and hot information!

The meeting included updates on strike action across the country and the strategy for this week. The Speakers brought messages of encouragement and direct reports on the impact the strike is having on Canada Post. Speakers included Erna Post, PSAC Negotiator, Lyrissa McFadden, UPCE Bargaining Team member, both UPCE local presidents, Tom Matchett and Tony Codospodi as well as Jane Marsh, CUPW 626.

Members left feeling re-energized and ready to stay the course and maintain strong pickets lines. see pics

November 28, 2008

UPCE General Membership Meeting

Click here for meeting information (word) (pdf)

Click here for info flyer (word) (pdf)

November 28, 2008

UPCE Members Picket In Thunder Bay

Picket line in Thunder Bay goes up in the not-so-bright and early morning at 5:30 a.m. Joined on the line by PSAC staff and members and a variety pack of local labour activists including Canadian Auto Workers Local 1075 president Paul Pugh and Thunder Bay District Labour Council President Melanie Kelso.

CUPW members are honouring the line, and as they stop to receive information and offer their support, traffic began to backup onto the main traffic artery and onto the highway.

Thanks to all of our brothers and sisters who have committed to continue to work in targeted strike action manner to ensure that UPCE members in remote locations can NOT be ignored by Canada Post!

See Press Release

November 27, 2008

Support Canada Post Workers (UPCE) on Strike - Day 11

Today is a significant day for the PSAC members who are on strike at Canada Post. They have been on strike since November 17th, 2008, fighting against attempted roll-back of their benefits by Canada Post.

They need your support TODAY.

Please go to this website: http://petition.web.net/psac/node/23

It will only take a few moments for you, your members, your family, your friends to send a message to your MP urging them tell Canada Post to negotiate a fair agreement.

It is important that you do this TODAY to support fellow PSAC members.

November 17, 2008

PSAC Members at Canada Post on Strike

PSAC/UPCE members who work at Canada Post are out on picket lines this morning across Canada. The strike of the more than 2400 PSAC/UPCE members was caused primarily by the employer's attempt to take away job security provisions and to reduce benefits.

Members are urged to contact their Regional Office to find how they can offer support to these striking workers. >>

Press Release (PDF)

Press Release (Word)

Rallys & Demos

On Sunday, November 23, 2008, a noisy and upbeat solidarity rally and barbeque was held at the Toronto South Central plant, 986 Eastern Ave. Food was generously donated by CUPW & UPCE locals. Letters of solidarity received from Communications Electrical Postal Union (CEPU) of Australia and the Sindicato De Trabajadores Postales De Columbia - STPC were read out.

Speakers offering support and solidarity greetings to striking UPCE members were Denis Lemelin, National President of CUPW; Kelly Steele, Ontario Vice-President, UPCE; Marie Clarke Walker, Executive Vice-President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC); Helen Kennedy, Toronto and York Region District Labour Council; Jane Marsh, Local President, CUPW 626; Carolyn Egan of United Steelworkers, Canada (USW); Janice Gairey, President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU). The rally ended with the singing of Solidarity Forever lead by Piper, daughter of a striking UPCE member!

To see video CLICK HERE

Bulletins

Week 1 (Word) (PDF)

News Coverage

CHCH News - November 17, 2008

Letters of Support

Sindicate de Trabajadores Postales de Colombia (STPC) CLICK HERE

Communications Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU) - Communications Division in Australia
CLICK HERE

Pictures & Videos

Picket Lines - Week 1

Solidarity Rally - Nov. 23, 2008

Friday, Dec. 5 - Santa paid a visit to the UPCE picket line in Stoney Creek where he delivered a cheque for $1200 to UPCE Local 00104. The donations came from the locals in the Hamilton/Niagara area. Santa clearly showed his support for the striking workers and the PSAC.

Dec. 2 -

Mount Hope

Solidarity Rally & Barbeque
Sunday, November 23, 2008

Left to Right:

Carolyn Egan, United Steel Workers (USW);
Marie Clarke-Walker, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), Vice-President;
Janice Gairey, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), President;
Kelly Steele, UPCE Ontario Vice-President;
Helen Kennedy, Toronto & York District Labour Council;
Denis Lemelin, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), National President;
Jane Marsh, CUPW President Local 626;
Piper, Daughter of UPCE Member;

December 16, 2008

UPCE Information Picket in downtown Kingston December 3, 2008 Kingston Shoppers Postal Outlet	Brother Bucherer Hands out Leaflets
Brothers Trottier and Bucherer vists Kingston MP	Kingston Main Postal Outlet