Winnipeg Local President's Rousing Demo Speech!

GOOD AFTERNOON SISTERS & BROTHERS.

I WOULD LIKE TO START BY THANKING YOU FOR COMING OUT TODAY TO EXPRESS YOUR SOLIDARITY WITH POSTAL WORKERS AND OUR SISTERS & BROTHERS FROM AIR CANADA. 

WE APPRECIATE THE PRESENCE OF OUR ALLIES FROM THE COMMUNITY AND OUR COMRADES FROM THE LABOUR MOVEMENT.

I WANT TO OPEN MY REMARKS BY CONGRATULATING MEMBERS FROM THE CANADIAN AUTO WORKERS UNION FOR THEIR COURAGEOUS DECISION TO STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK AGAINST CORPORATE GREED.  AIR CANADA WOKRERS HAVE MADE MANY SACRIFICES IN THE PAST WHEN ASKED TO SUPPORT THEIR INDUSTRY AND KEEP THEIR EMPLOYER AFLOAT.

THE DEMANDS OF AIR CANADA TO TAKE AWAY MORE FROM YOU IS REPREHENSIBLE AND INTOLERABLE.  POSTAL WORKERS STAND WITH YOU IN YOUR DETERMINATION TO RESIST CONCESSIONS AND ROLL-BACKS AND YOU CAN COUNT ON OUR SUPPORT IN THE STRUGGLE AHEAD. 

NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OUR MEMBERS.  WE ARE ENORMOUSLY PROUD OF YOUR SOLIDARITY & DISCIPLINE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.  The new work methods in the plant and on the street are downright dangerous.  Forced overtime and unmanageable workloads have HAD A DEBILITATING IMPACT ON YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES BUT YOU’VE STUCK TOGETHER.

YOU RESPONDED ENTHUSIATICALLY WHEN WINNIPEG WAS CALLED OUT TO BE THE FIRST CENTRE IN CANADA TO TAKE STRIKE ACTION TO TRY AND FORCE CANADA POST TO MOVE AT THE BARGAINING TABLE.  AS DIFFICULT AS IT WAS, YOU RETURNED TO WORK TO SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS WHILE THE EMPLOYER COMMENCED PROVOCATION IN THE WORKPLACE.  YOU RESISTED THE TEMPTATION TO WALK OUT AGAIN AND REMAINED DISCIPLINED IN SUPPORT OF THE STRATEGY OF OUR NATIONAL UNION.  YOU ARE TO BE CONGRATULATED FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ENDURED.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE EMPLOYER WE WORK FOR.  WHERE ELSE BUT AT CANADA POST WOULD YOU WITNESS THE EVENTS THAT WE’VE WITNESSED OVER THE LAST 13 DAYS.

WE SAW THE EMPLOYER REMAIN INTRANSIGENT ON THEIR DEMAND TO ABOLISH OUR WAGE PROTECTION PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT WHEN WE FALL ILL OR ARE INJURED ON THE JOB.  PROVSIONS WE HAVE HAD FOR OVER 40 YEARS.  WHO ELSE BUT CANADA POST WOULD DEMAND TO IMPLEMENT A CHEAP LABOUR STRATEGY ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS WHILE THEY POSTED PROFITS FOR THE PAST 16 CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND PAY OUT GOLD PLATED BONUSES TO THOSE THAT CONTRIBUTE NOTHING TO THE PROCESSING AND DELIVERY OF  MAIL TO CANADIANS?

WHO ELSE BUT CANADA POST WOULD ABANDON SERVICE AND LOCK OUT LETTER CARRIERS THAT PROVIDE INVALUABLE SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS CUSTOMERS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE AS THEY DID THIS TUESDAY?

WHO ELSE BUT CANADA POST WOULD THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM AND WHINE THAT AIR CANADA WAS GETTING SPECIAL LEGISLATION?  WHO ELSE BUT CANADA POST WOUILD IMPOSE A NATION WIDE LOCK-OUT WHEN WORKERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE PREPARED TO DELIVER ALL THE MAIL THAT WAS TRAPPED IN THE SYSTEM?  ACCORDING TO A RECENT CBC POLL OVER 60 PER CENT OF CANADIANS BELIEVE THAT CANADA POST WAS WRONG TO IMPOSE THEIR NATION WIDE LOCK-OUT.

THE PROBLEMS AT CANADA POST HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH A MANAGEMENT BODY THAT HAS FAILED IN THEIR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE UNIVERSAL SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.  THEY ARE DAMAGING OUR PUBLIC POST OFFICE AND NEED TO BE REMOVED. 

NOW TO MR. HARPER.

IT IS CLEAR WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EVENTS THAT ARE UNFOLDING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OVER THE PAST 48 HOURS THAT WE ARE GETTING A TASTE OF THE EARLY STAGES OF HARPERS’ AGENDA FOR WORKING PEOPLE IN CANADA. 

IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT LABOUR MINISTER RAITT RAISED BACK TO WORK LEGISLATION FOR AIR CANADA STRIKERS WHEN THEY HADN’T EVEN BEEN ON THE PICKET LINES FOR A DAY.

ITS INCREDIBLE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO TABLE SPECIAL LEGISLATION TO END FREE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AT CANADA POST WHEN MAIL DELIVERY WAS BEING MAINTAINED ACROSS THE COUNTRY UNTIL THE LOCK OUT ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

THIS IS A SIGN THAT THIS GOVERNMENT DOES NOT RESPECT THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS OF CANADIANS TO BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY AND TAKE STRIKE ACTION IF NECESSARY IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM THE GREEDY AGENDA OF BIG BUSINESS.

AS A LABOUR MOVEMENT AND AS CONCERNED CITIZENS WE MUST COMMIT TO OPPOSING THE HARPER AGENDA AND THOSE OF HIS CORPORATE BOSSES.