THURSDAY
S I N C E
DECEMBER 12, 2013
1 8 9 5
Vol. 118, Issue 196
105
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INCLUDING G.S.T.
Nor-Am races this weekend Page 12
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Canada Post plans end of door-to-door mail delivery BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Local postal workers were blindsided Wednesday when they were delivered the news that Canada Post is doing away with door-to-door letter carriers. Within the next five years, 6,000 to 8,000 positions will be eliminated to phase out home delivery and replace it with community mail boxes. “We were devastated to hear about this before we even got to work,” said Ed Evans, Local 842 president of the Canada Union of Postal Workers. “We were told nothing before this announcement,” he continued. “What this means is the end of an era for Canada Post.” The national mail service cites rising costs and falling mail volumes have rendered the traditional operations no longer sustainable. “We deliver to the public and a lot of those people are becoming older,” said Evans. “That means walking two blocks down the street to a postal box to pick up your mail,” he explained. “Icy sidewalks on hillsides, which this town has, is a concern and
ALL WRAPPED UP
one of the reasons for door-to-door delivery.” The Trail post office has 18 employees, and 12 letter carriers. “How this will affect us is undetermined today but these are full-time jobs,” said Evans. “And I can guarantee there will be a lot less of us, at least 50 per cent.” One mobile route, which means one person would sort the mail and deliver it to street letter boxes by vehicle, would service 1,500 people, he said. “In a small town like Trail this means the new system would replace our employees two-to-one,” added Evans. Canada Post reported a pre-tax loss of $109 million in the third quarter period that ended Sept. 28, and continues to face competition from couriers and technology that has led to growing popularity of consumers paying their bills and communicating online. “I think this is just an excuse to start down the road to privatization,” Alex Atamanenko, MP BC Southern Interior, told the Trail Times Wednesday afternoon. See MP, Page 4
IBEW responds to offer of binding arbitration BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
After a weekend of shows of support from provincial and local labour groups and time to consider the latest offer of binding arbitration from Fortis BC, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 213 bargaining team has presented the company with a counter-offer in a last ditch attempt to end the six month lockout before Christmas. “We presented the company with our three options we presented in the last session and as a fourth option we offered to enter
into binding arbitration,” said Rod Russell, IBEW business manager. “We’re requesting some changes to the binding arbitration but I don’t think there’s anything that should be a roadblock.” Binding arbitration would see employees return to work while the arbitration is negotiated, with an agreement by both sides of the dispute to accept the terms of the arbitrator. Russell admitted apprehension on the part of the bargaining team and IBEW membership to agreeing to the process. See FORTISBC, Page 3
“ I want to know more about mutual funds.”
GUY BERTRAND PHOTO
Naomi McKimmie, executive director of the Trail and District United Way, is one of Santa’s many helpers this Christmas season. Today and next week, the United Way is gift wrapping by donation (minimum $5). Drop off your boxed items and pick them up same day with all donations going into the 2013 campaign fund. The local United Way recently made a move to its new location on 855 Farwell Street in downtown Trail, across from Ferraro Foods. The new site is more accessible to the community and open Mondays from noon until 4 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. For further info call 364-0999.
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242
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