Canada Post has started to implement deep service cutbacks that stand to affect many communities in Canada. Many mid and small sized cities and towns will be affected.
"These service cuts could affect hundreds of jobs in all the communities," says Gord Fischer, National Director of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Prairie Region.
"We can expect to see serious delays in mail delivery in these locations. The Union opposes these cutbacks. The results of these changes will reduce employment in these communities and lengthen the time it takes for business and the public to communicate by mail."
In a notice sent March 13, 2013, Canada Post announced that it will soon be modifying its mail processing strategy and will be sending all mail from many centres to Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Regina for sorting and returning the product to each city.
The first thing customers will notice, says Fischer, is the change from twin red street letterboxes to a single one. In the affected areas, local and non-local mail will all go to the larger centres for sorting, taking the work with it. This process has already started in many locations.
"We call upon the public and its elected representatives to question the need for these service cutbacks," explains Fischer. "The work that will be removed is created by postal customers in these centres and should remain there in the interest of efficient and effective postal service." Fischer adds that the Union will also be taking its concerns to federal, municipal and provincial elected leaders and asking them for assistance in this matter.
"It is unnecessary and environmentally disastrous to truck mail back and forth just to attempt to reduce staff, when the service can be provided locally. We have Canada Post officials making decisions that affect mail service in the Prairie Provinces and I don't think they even understand the geography and conditions there. Canada Post is not taking the customers into account as they make changes to the work at the Corporation.
"Canada Post is spending billions of dollars on modernizing their structure, but not a single cent is going towards service improvements. Once again they are reducing service to many communities and creating a second-class system for smaller communities," concludes Fischer.
