Postal workers ratify contract / Unifor launches women's advocate program
Postal workers ratify contract
TORONTO — Postal workers in the Canadian Postal Import Program (CPIP) ratified their first collective agreement as members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).
The deal marks CUPW’s first collective agreement with a temporary employment agency.
"As far as we know, it may be the first under federal or provincial labour legislation," said CUPW national union representative Cathy Kennedy in a statement.
CUPW began negotiations with Adecco — a temp agency contracted by Canada Post to process incoming international parcels — in 2012.
Negotiations lasted for more than a year, during which time Adecco created the subsidiary SQR to act as the employer for the bargaining unit. The union and employer were in the formal conciliation process when an agreement with CUPW was reached in October 2014.
The deal — which covers CPIP members working in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver — includes wage increases of almost 20 per cent for most members, a seniority-based bidding schedule, the creation of health and safety committees and increased protection from unfair discipline.
"For too long, our new members were not protected by any collective agreement," Kennedy said. "We continue our push to organize the rest of the post and logistics sector in Canada, which will benefit us all as we grow."
Unifor introduces women’s advocate program at Bell Aliant
CHARLOTTETOWN — A recent agreement between Unifor and Bell Aliant will see a women’s advocate program implemented at the company in an effort to create safer workplaces free from harassment.
Four advocates — one in each Atlantic province — will be trained to be able to respond and intervene in cases of workplace harassment or domestic and intimate violence against women.
Unifor has negotiated 311 women’s advocates in workplaces across the country, including the four most recent positions at Bell Aliant.
Speaking with CBC News, Unifor’s regional director for Atlantic Canada, Lana Payne, said the new women’s advocates will be trained to offer services ranging from education campaigns to helping women exit difficult personal situations.
"Some great women in our union suggested that if we started having workplace representatives that dealt with this issue of violence and harassment against women, it would prompt a discussion at the collective bargaining table and a deeper conversation with employers but also with our members," Payne said.
