Canada Post made a major announcement December 11 that includes the phasing out of home mail delivery in the next five years, something the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) say will send the postal company in a downward spiral.
The average age of current employees is 48 and Canada Post expects nearly 15,000 employees to retire or leave the company over the next five years. This is more than enough to allow for the reduction of between 6,000 and 8,000 positions, mainly through attrition.
"If this happens, it would be the end of an era for Canada Post," said Denis Lemelin, CUPW National President. "We recognize that Canada Post needs to change, but this is not the way."
CUPW has consistently advocated for innovation and service expansion to create a financially viable and service oriented postal service for the future.
"We are extremely concerned that these changes will send Canada Post into a downward spiral," said Lemelin. "Furthermore, the skyrocketing stamp prices will make the postal service inaccessible to many people."
"Under these changes, the majority of Canadians, because they buy stamps in booklets or coils, will pay $0.85 per stamp, with discounts for customers that use the mail most. The minority of consumers who purchase stamps one at a time, which represents an estimated 2 per cent of stamp purchases, will pay $1 per stamp," Canada Post said in a press release.
The stamp price changes will take effect March 31, 2014.
