Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Since PSAC signed the collective agreement with Canada Post four years ago, there have been a lot of changes in the way that work is organized and who does that work. The drive for “increased flexibility” has led to reorganization, increased use of term and casual employees and duties being moved outside the bargaining unit.

In 2006, Human Resource Management (HRM) and Production and Control Reporting (PCR) were reorganized and new reporting systems were introduced. Canada Post’s expectations increased, workloads increased and yet fewer people were left to do more complicated work. For example, in 2002, 50 jobs were created in Montreal to handle increased workloads and now only 17 people remain in those positions. The workload has not decreased.

Members are now finding that they have to monitor and correct work that is being done outside of the bargaining unit. This work used to be part of their job.

While PSAC recognizes that there may be some situations that call for term or casual staffing, the union is concerned about the increasing use of these strategies instead of simply staffing positions on a permanent basis.

Volunteerism doesn’t help. Because of increased workloads, members volunteer their own time. They work extra hours during the week or come in on weekends to help out. There is no formal record of this work and it signals to Canada Post that no new workers are needed because the work still gets done. If a work activity is important, it should be recognized as being important and have paid dedicated workers attached to it.

Canada Post workers have demonstrated over and over again that they are experts in the work that they do on behalf of the public and their employer. To protect our members’ work, PSAC seeks to ensure that our work is not assigned to persons outside of the bargaining unit. The collective agreement language proposed is as follows:

7.01 Work in the Bargaining Unit

(a) Work normally and regularly done performed by an employee in the bargaining unit of the PSAC shall not be performed on a regular basis by another Corporate employee outside the bargaining unit unless that work also forms a bona fide part of the duties of that employee. Similarly, unless otherwise specified in the Agreement, an employee in the bargaining unit will not be required to perform work outside of the bargaining unit.

(b) The Corporation will not contract out work performed by employees in the bargaining unit.

While some protections are provided under our current collective agreement, Canada Post has agreed to stronger protections for other workers under its employ. PSAC members at Canada Post deserve nothing less.

Remember, there are more constructive ways to deal with increased workloads at Canada Post. Moving bargaining unit work outside UPCE/PSAC isn’t inevitable. Supporting this bargaining demand is a good first step.