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The Community
Press
TEXT ‘ABFIRES’ to 45678Proudly to donate $10Made to Red Cross for Jasper wildfire relie in Canada Volume 117 Issue 46
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New RCMP Constable INSIDE!
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 s
Here We Go Again... Canada Post receives strike notice from union Leslie Cholowsky Editor Canada Post notified its customers on Monday, May 19, that the corporation had received strike notices from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), for both Urban and RSMC (Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers) bargaining units. The notices indicate that CUPW intends to begin strike activity on Friday, May 23, at 12:00 am local time. Canada Post says that customers should be prepared for possible service delays, but operations continue as usual at this time. Canada Post says, “A labour disruption would affect the millions of Canadians and businesses who rely on the postal service and deepen the company’s already serious financial situation. “It is critical that both parties focus their energies on resolving issues to reach negotiated agreements. “In the event CUPW initiates rotating
strike activity, Canada Post intends to continue delivering in unaffected areas while working to reach negotiated agreements. Canada Post will work to minimize service disruptions, but customers may experience delays. “In the event of a national labour disruption, mail and parcels will not be delivered and no new items will be accepted until the disruption is over. All mail and parcels in our network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume.” CUPW says, “The National Executive Board has not yet determined whether job action will take place immediately. It will depend on Canada Post’s actions at the bargaining table in the days to come.” CUPW listed the following items as “Unresolved issues”: •Wage increases in line with inflation •COLA payments to be rolled into the basic wage rate •The full elimination of SSD •Time to prepare and deliver Neigh-
bourhood Mail and changes to Article 50 and Appendices “V-1” and “D” to address route length and overburdening •Improved staffing provisions, including forcing CPC to fill vacancies monthly, the deletion of Clause 39.04, improvements to Clause 39.05, creation of Group 1 relief positions, and changes to Appendix “P” to address local staffing issues •Increase STDP payments from 70 per cent to 80 per cent of our wages and increase Injury on Duty payments to 88 per cent •Add 10 paid medical days to our seven paid personal days, and allow medical days to be banked •Significant improvements to our group benefits plans, including increased coverage for health specialists, fertility treatment, gender-affirming care, vision care, and more •Improved rights for Temporary employees, including access to group benefits plans when working continuous assignments of six months or more
•Precautionary cessation of work for pregnant and breastfeeding employees •Rotations of duties for Groups 3 and 4 •Paid meal and rest periods for workers working five hours or more •Improved protections against technological change •Improved protections against harassment •Contract in cleaning, highway services, Combined Urban Services, and other work CUPW members can perform •Service expansion projects, including postal banking, senior and other check ins, and an e-commerce platform An Industry Inquiry Commission Report was released last week. During last December’s strike, with both sides unable to reach a deal, the matter was referred to an Industrial Inquiry Commission and the collective agreement was extended to May 22, 2025. Continued on Page 16
Retiring Wheaties bid a fond farewell by teammates
The Community Press office will be CLOSED Monday, August 5 for the Civic Holiday. We will reopen Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. and our next edition will still be published Wedneday. Aug. 7 Four players retired from the Killam Jr. B Wheat Kings team this year: #55 Blake Sitler, who returns behind the bench next season, #19 Kyler Bergseth, #6 Trey Forster, Ad deadlines will be noon Tuesday, Aug. 6 and #18 Tyler Krys. Each player was presented with a hand-drawn portrait created by local artist Dan Fee. See full story Page 9.