President's Message December 2009
The Hamilton Local had monthly consultation with Management on December 7, 2009. Here were some of the main issues:
The Local pointed out a number of contractual violations in management's Disability Management Process recently presented in Ottawa to the Union. Management, along with Manulife, is still failing to advise members of their right to have Union representation throughout the process. Management is also trying to mislead members regarding communications with Manulife and their right to certified sick time. You do not have to speak with Manulife under any circumstance. Regardless of what Manulife says, you have the right to certified sick time. Please contact the Union office if you run into problems.
The Local took issue with the lack of information being provided on the Area/Automated Volume Index (AMVI) now being used by Canada Post. This new index replaced the Depot Mail Volume Index (MVI) the Union fought so long to achieve. Management has been unwilling to provide the information the Local has requested on the AMVI. The Local believes that the new AMVI is seriously flawed and not accurately capturing mail volumes. This can have a negative affect on letter carrier restructures, and in particular, the restructure currently going on at Hamilton LCD 1.
The parties consulted on annual leave for 2010/2011 for Collection & Delivery in the Hamilton and Oakville Post Offices, Retail, and the Hamilton Mail Processing Plant (HMPP). The picking of vacation should now be underway. The employer agreed to let PO 4's at the HMPP pick in the section they ended up in as a result of the shift bid. This will avoid the overlap and confusion from last year.
Management has decided to stop providing a Saturday operation to the public on the Retail counter at the Meadowlands in Ancaster because of lower revenues compared to the weekdays. The Local voiced its opposition to closing Saturday because the business will simply be taken by the Shoppers Drug Mart postal outlet nearby.
The Local has received reports from members at the Burlington Main and LCD 1 in Hamilton that Management has informed the letter carriers they will be going to force backs before using temporary employees when required. The Union sees this as a violation of Article 15.14. Ironically, temporary members have been contacting the office because they are not getting any work. This is clearly an inflammatory gesture by Management to antagonize the membership going into negotiations. Please file a grievance as soon as this happens.
The Union has sent the WSIB Net Average Earnings arbitration decision to the courts to ensure compliance. Canada Post has been slow in awarding monies owed to the membership as a result of the decision. The Local recently won a regular arbitration regarding a letter carriers right to know what portions of parcel work they may be covering when overtime gets to them in Transportation. Conversely the Local lost a regular arbitration on penalizing Canada post for notifying clerks for overtime within an hour. The arbitrator was only willing to direct Management not to charge an opportunity.
In a year that has seen break neck change at the Post Office it is important that we all take time out with friends and family to celebrate the holiday season. I would like to thank my fellow executive officers and the Regional and National Union Representatives for all their hard work in a very difficult year. I would also like to thank the membership for their extraordinary efforts in standing up to Management. And just a reminder, please take the time to show support for the RSMC's who are currently in negotiations with Canada Post. The struggle continues.
In solidarity,
Mark Platt, President