Gunter: “We need a Crown corporation delivering our mail the same way we need government-owned telephone services or public buggy whip makers.”
P.S. Denis Lemelin, the president of Canadian Postal Workers Union, talks with Krista Erickson of Sun News TV.
–Ex-postie accused of mail theft
http://tinyurl.com/6joj7sn
–Canada Post workers charged in mail theft
http://tinyurl.com/6ymjapb
I pay most bills online and get 90% of my parcels from UPS(1-3 deliveries each week) which usually delivers after dinner up until as later as 8:00PM on some days.
wallyj: For the most part I don’t complain about CP because it is cheaper and more convenient.
UNTIL they go on strike for more outrageous wages and benefits and hold my mail hostage.
It is funny how that mandate is so important until of course they feel the need to strike.
Public sector unions should be illegal as long as it is a monopoly.
Public sector unions should be illegal as long as it is a monopoly.
~Sheldon
I agree public sector unions should be illegal, but not only in the case where they have a monopoly.
PS Unions shouldn’t be allowed to give political donations.
While Canada Post and Air Canada do not have monopolies, they are protected with special rules that keep their private competition from underselling them in the case of CP or premium air routes in the case of Air Canada, and their bottom lines are underwritten with our taxes so that they don’t have to be competitive or efficient.
I’d like to see all the Crown Corporations dismantled, especially the CBC, and until they are dismantled I think their finances should be open to auditing and made public without havind to make FOI requests.
my neighbour is a “letter carrier”.
his take on the strike is not wages.
the post office wants to introduce more efficient automated sorting equipment.
this will reduce the “manual sorting hours” and increase the “walking delivery hours”.
and reduce manpower.
Wallyj is not wrong, y’know. Of all the government “services” I’m forced to use, Canada Post gets it right most of the time. And its not like UPS or FedEx never screw anything up either.
Truth, there’s no reason why Canada Post can’t function like a business, because let us not forget, it USED TO back in the 1960s before CUPW was born.
I understand from Borque(Liberal)News Watch that the government is preparing to legislate Air Canada AND the posties back to work, as well as change their pensions over from the current taxpayer-funded-bottomless-pit model to a private fund model, where employees draw out what they put in plus fund growth. You know, like normal people.
This seems a very reasonable way to proceed, and good Conservative ideology as well. All countries have national postal services, I have no objection to there being a Canadian national postal service. -Provided- that it operates at a reasonable cost and on a user-pays basis.
In Germany they privatized their postal service years ago. Their stamp prices have been steadily declining. Meanwhile in Canada…
OZ,the reason postal theft makes the news is because it is such a slap in the face to the customers . I,and virtually all of my co-workers,are shamed by those who steal from the mail. If you can find an occupation that is blemish-free,please let me know. If you think privatizing will reduce theft,you just may be wrong.
Sheldon,the outrageous wages and benefits that we want are; well,the status quo and a raise that keeps pace with inflation. The company wants to scale back wages for new employees,cut wage hikes to below inflation levels, and reduce our benefit package. They propose that sick leave over 7 days a year be subject to medical personnel of their choice,the company doctor (so to speak). What could possibly go wrong?
If you think privatizing will reduce theft,you just may be wrong.
~WALLYJ
I’m quite sure privatizing will reduce theft.
Everthing I get from couriers is registered and trackable from sender to receiver.
Not so with Canada Post.
Could everything Canada Post now delivers be trackable in the same way?
Sure, except it would cost far more because the money that is spent by private courier companies for tracking is spent on wages and benefits at Canada Post.
Wally, I sometimes have views different than the rest of the gang here. Nothing wrong with that.
I just think most everyone appreciates when he argue the points rather than calling someone a troll/socialist/communist/dufus. Those terms we should leave for the REAL trolls on SDA on DO want to DESTROY Canada.
Speaking of which, where is the Old Couch and the PhuD?!
James;
Germany has a population density of 236 people per square km.
Canada has a population density of 9 people per square km.
There lies the problem with privatization. Privatization will only work if the urban centres are willing to hang the rural areas out to dry.
Gee,that sounds really liberal,doesn’t it?
http://www.canada.com/business/Canada+Post+locks+employees+suspends+operations+across+country/4946693/story.html
When you have P.O. box address as your mailing address and you can not walk to post office in Toronto because of strike
this is very disturbing to so many standing angree of managment of post Canada and their employee of so ignorance.
people with p.O. box ownership should allow to get their mail once a week at least
today suppose to be open but their boss in Ottawa get their employee out this time
this time it was not employee Union of canada post in guilty here
I asked them what is main complain
few employees union explained for me:
they had pension and their pension is going to cut and all their money going to us to pay Canada government debt and this is kind of steal money from them because those pension is owned by them
They said Canada post is profitable business and government did intentionally to sell thier job free to some busienss men and make it privatized
One employees said CBC is private owned by government and they are owned by goverment of Canada and they can ask CBC to made flyer or news like National post and they can deliver it to home with food and grocery coupne
they need more marketing to creat more job for them
they can deliver certain ads in certain seperated box from regular mail that if person do not wish to recieve flyer is more clear from regular mail
they suppect government try to get their pension to pay their debt and use money to involve spending in war zone
if goverment like to pay Canada post later other like TTC and other own goverment group can join strick club as well and they try to may fire us and hire new employee and not allow us to go strike
mediator lawyer do not do good job here and they have not good lawyer to put their voice up.
They said government try to give them small car and they prefer to have increase salary because all of them has car and all of them are educated people above grade 12 and work hard.
government could prevent it but government try to let them down to help them resolve their right
strike with people mail can lead to security if they get mad they bother with people mail this is risk involve to allow them to go to future strike or allow government if their business is profitable to put them down
they need to listen to them and made fast decision
or put some area more P.o. Box as well.
“Everthing I get from couriers is registered and trackable from sender to receiver.”
And at what cost? Sixty cents across the country,or $20 dollars and up to places where the private companies deliver,never mind the places they don’t.
Robert,davenport is likely lost,and I can’t figure who PhuD could possibly be. Phil?
Robert, too funny. I think I know who PhuD may be.
There lies the problem with privatization. Privatization will only work if the urban centres are willing to hang the rural areas out to dry.
~wallyj
How about disolving Canada Post and creating a new non-union government delivery entity operating in rural areas only?
That would cost less overall.
I new her by another name.
“How about disolving Canada Post and creating a new non-union government delivery entity operating in rural areas only?”
Who knows,that may work. I do thinkthat if it ain’t broken,why try to fix it?
I do thinkthat if it ain’t broken,why try to fix it?
~wallyj
You and others may disagree, but I think it is broken or at least entirely obsoleted by the internet and private couriers.
I don’t need Canada Post at all and many people I know don’t need it either.
Even taxes could be paid online.
“I don’t need Canada Post at all and many people I know don’t need it either.
But,I need it,and my children need it,wherever they may be,spread out across many routes.
Seriously,Canada Post does work for Canada.
The internet may be a viable threat to it’s existence.
OTOH,the telegraph was a threat,the telephone was a threat,remember fax machines,they had THE death grip on the postal neck.
People do want hard copy in their hands,and other items readily with-in reach. Today,the only cost effective way to give that is Canada Post.
People do want hard copy in their hands
~wallyj
Some people might.
I copy the invoices/billings I get from companies over the net.
It doesn’t matter which end of the internet the hard copy is printed off.
A copy is a copy.
Canada post need some one with more business view to create more ideas to made public and postal people link and easy access together
Canada crysler or Canada jet can use for fast delivery or who know may food delivery to home too
One Canada post employee told me
they do not give them any salary when they are sick for any reason
I said Canada post employee of government employees and member of parlement has sick leave for time they are ill so as Canada post need to have sick leave day too
All government employees need to have similar benefit if their job is profitable job for public
one employee said if we increase postal price people get mad of us
but we have certain time of year like father day or mother day or christmas busy time we only need good marketing and good ceo to help us
then I said
good news
Allan Leighton president of Loblaw are fired from his job and he worked in London for post office and I know he start by fire so many employees and then later he did fired so many Loblaw employees but instead he keep add million salary for himself
may be government need to hire Allan Leighton for more help
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=3042
May be time Canada post to put
like UPS or fedex
to deliver food or deliver parcel and deliver company computer as well to make more profit as well.
Canada has too many jet may used that jet to sent parcel from people or food delivery to home for disable or rich people
http://www.google.ca/#hl=en&source=hp&q=UPS+canada+vs.+Canada+post&oq=UPS+canada+vs.+Canada+post&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=985l13110l0l27l26l1l13l1l0l250l2029l1.6.5&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=34aae85413766f61&biw=1003&bih=567
R=new
It would be nice if nics and comment times were at the top of comments so they could be easily scrolled over without reading.
How hard would that be to format?
Last thing I like to read hard cover book and reading book from internet is not easy
I know all kind of ipad but may danager to eye and if we allos all book store deliver their book using Canada post to home with lower price
or If Canada post put some ads that are legidement vereses stranger flyer deliver this also create more trusted job
we say Canada post are employee and must be more trusted that people we do not know come near home and drop flyer
there is 100 ideas but people like to see negative not see any postive view of any problmes to solve.
In future government need to hire me for all of my good ideas free of charge to them to send me some cheque too in my post box as well.
wallyj says “James;
Germany has a population density of 236 people per square km.
Canada has a population density of 9 people per square km.
There lies the problem with privatization. Privatization will only work if the urban centres are willing to hang the rural areas out to dry.
Gee,that sounds really liberal,doesn’t it?”
Ah, the sound of someone whistling past the graveyard. The truth is that it makes little difference about population density (as the population density in Canada is confined to a small geographic area in any event). The fact is that inefficiencies abound in all public sector postal systems. Wallyj doesn’t seem to understand that regardless of the population density, there are all kinds of efficiencies to be found in any unionized public sector organization. Unions virtually GUARANTEE inefficiency.
Privatization will easily work in all of Canada. All that is required is for the government to drop the legislated monopoly of Canada Post and you can bet the private sector will pick up the ball and run circles around Canada Post. IF for no other reason than the fact that the absentee rate for Canada Post employees is 60% higher than other Canadian workers.
Gee,that sounds really liberal,doesn’t it?
~Joey
That’s wallyj protecting his job, and apparently the jobs of some in his family too.
I don’t blame him, he has responsibilities and obligations.
wallyj and postal workers:
What if you strike yourselves right out of jobs? Perhaps being old fashioned, I had avoided signing up for e-billing. But not anymore. This will reduce my mail volume by 80%. I already pay all my bills on the internet, now I’ll reduce any need for the postal service even further.
Many workers can only dream of the wages, benefits and pension plans the public service currently receives (that’s ALL public service). So maybe you can see why us “others” don’t think you deserve any more. And as for the reduction in hiring salaries/benefits, if it’s not good enough, then don’t apply.
Oh, the other 20% of my mail is advertising, so I won’t miss it.
@wallyj
I applaud you for speaking facts to platitudes and pipe dreams.
Trolls or shills for socialism. What’s the difference?
When your right your right. Excellent article.
Damn,this is just like being at work, there it’s a pile-on over my opinions(not work related views),except SDA is more polite,with one exception,(punk goof).
The times they are a-changing,including the volumes of mail. Contrary to reports in the media,the volume of mail is increasing in Canada.
The corporation trumpets the decrease in lettermail,however the total overall volume of 4 different classes of mail is steadily increasing.
Heaven forbid, a gov’t official would never deliberately spin facts to portray themselves in a favourable light,especially during contract negotiations.Gosh no.
A sincere thanks to all here for not sliding into the morass of overpaid paperboys.and declaring that they would do the job for minimum wage.That is the prevalent theme on the CBC and Globe sites.
Robert,thanks again for the “absolutely not” post.
Also, I thought that the posts by R today was you giving me a clue to who PhuD would be. Obviously it was a coincidence.
Cheers to all.I have to go now and pick up my prescription at the liquor store so I can relax while watching CANUCKS kick some Harvard area ass.See you after the game.
What the hell,I may as well go to the bar. It’s not like I have to work tomorrow.
Correction,it’s not like I have a career to go to. Big difference,job or career.
Good luck personally wallyj. I do think however that Canada Post needs to either privatize or shape up big time. CUPW has taken it too far over the last few decades and it is time to reverse the process.
I expect that the good employees would be kept on if privatizing were to occur.
BTW, my sister-in-law is the postmaster or mistress (whatever) of what is about a six person post office and she does not inspire me that there is not room for improvement in many ways.
I do not think anyone here is after you personally, it is that most privately employed people are fed up with government unions and their constant demands when generally they are making more income than privately employed people and have much better pensions and perks.
It would be great if there was a money tree somewhere.
When I moved, certain organizations couldn’t update the address regardless my attempts to correct them. The postie that used to deliver to me also delivered to my mom, he made sure any mail directed to me got to me through my mom. I also know several posties that check on the elderly people along their route making sure they are ok. The posties I know are serving reservists, ex military, gun owners, etc quite a mix mash of interests. This is their first strike since 1997, not exactly a hotbed of labour discontent.
@ Colin, I know, there are many good people, most of them in fact, in government employment and in private business. However, there are also a number of loafers and the union protects them. I also know a number of government workers, including some family members, who are upset that the unions are so left wing and are afraid to say anything because they will get into trouble. The average Joe just wants to make a day’s wage and go home to his or her family and therefor the radicals take the union jobs and take over.
During the 1960s, a friend once worked got a job on a parts making machine at GM in St. Catharines, Ontario. At first he had difficulty making the number of pieces he was required to make. He soon learned how to do the job and surpassed the quota. A couple of union guys came along and said “John, don’t work so hard”. John did not take the comment seriously and in fact was able to up the numbers even more. The same guys came back and this time told him he better slow down or thy would fix him. As soon as they left he went to the supervisor and said I quit as I cannot work under conditions like that.
This incident is all too common in the big union jobs.
Wally, I get the union going for higher wages, who doesn’t want to at least keep up with inflation(even though the long term life of Canada Post is iffy at best). However, I’m a manager in another federal department. Sick leave is abused big time. Seven days a year is plenty, if you have a serious condition, going to the company doctor shouldn’t be a big deal.
Canada Post is on strike?
Did you notice?!
Oz
“How about disolving Canada Post and creating a new non-union government delivery entity operating in rural areas only?”
Rural mail couriers are private contracters who bid/tender on each rural route.
Why on earth should Government be delivering the mail? Why aren’t mail delivery companies delivering the mail?
Get government out of the mail delivery business.
“ That’s wallyj protecting his job, and apparently the jobs of some in his family too.
I don’t blame him, he has responsibilities and obligations. ”
One final post,I couldn’t let this condescending dog lie (as in sleeping dogs).
I am not here protecting my job. I do that by doing my job. I know the facts regarding privatization,my job is not in jeopardy from that corner. Furthermore,no one in my immediate or extended family works for the post office other than myself. I do have family members that are very active in the unions,and we have spirited debates.