By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Postal workers and supporters rallying across the country for day of action

Dec 1, 2018 | 7:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Supporters of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have been planning for 25 demonstrations on Saturday, Dec. 1, in various cities across Canada.

Community members will gather at the Downtown Lethbridge Post office in response to what the union is calling unfair “Back to Work” legislation forcing postal workers back to work under threat of heavy fines and jeopardizing the Constitutional rights of all Canadians.

The Delivering Community Power coalition and Friends of Public Services put a call out for a day of action earlier this week and thousands answered, including local residents such as Sherry Hunt.

“We’re all affected, and we want to support not only the postal workers in our communities but defend the rights of Canadians,” Hunt continued. “When a government starts arbitrarily picking and choosing citizens that are and are not deserving of their rights guaranteed under the Charter, I think we all need to pay close attention and be wary.” 

Krysty Thomas, President of the Lethbridge Labour Council pointed out that it gives Canada Post management an unfair advantage and an opportunity to avoid having to bargain with its largest group of employees.

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“The right to strike creates an equitable bargaining process, it gives employees power and places them on a more equal footing with their employer. This promotes a fairer bargaining process. Passing back to work legislation while the parties are still negotiating interferes with these workers fundamental freedoms under the Charter of rights,” Thomas stated.

The local demonstration will be taking place at the Lethbridge Post Office beginning at 12 p.m.

The call for a day of action from the Delivering Community Power coalition was quickly picked up by numerous environmental groups, advocacy organizations, labour councils, and other unions, some of which have already pledged financial support and sent their members to community picket lines to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience.

Postal workers and supporters in Lethbridge, Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Red Deer will also be joining in the Day of Action, on top of other big centres around the country including:
–    Vancouver
–    Regina
–    Winnipeg
–    Toronto
–    Ottawa
–    Montreal
–    Halifax

Some of those union groups include the Friends of Public Services, the Council of Canadians, and the National Organization of Retired Postal Workers.

A release from the group organizing the rallies states labour rights and the ability to win the economic transformation they need to survive are under attack. On Tuesday, Nov. 27, when the federal government’s new back to work legislation went into law, it had a provision to impose millions in fines if Postal Workers go on strike. 

Postal workers are called on their allies in labour, environmental, and Indigenous movements to rally in solidarity with them to send a clear message: that they support everyone’s right to strike – for better working conditions, and a better world. 

James Hutt, Campaign Coordinator of Delivering Community Power says the movement is forming. 

“In less than 48 hours, thousands of people signed up for December 1st to support postal workers,” Hutt continued. “We know that they are fighting for gender equality, climate action, and better public services, and these issues clearly have a lot of support across the country.”

Postal workers were on rotating strikes for six weeks before the Liberal government’s legislation forced them back to work earlier this week. 

Critics of the legislation say it violates the Canadian constitution and unjustly favours the management side in the labour dispute.

“By passing this unconstitutional legislation, the Liberals are attacking all of us. We need to resist it,” Friends of Public Services Director Dru Jay said.

CUPW’s demands include an end to the crisis rate of injuries at work, equal pay for rural and suburban letter carriers; expanding services to include support for seniors, and a public postal bank.