A member of the Edmonton Local has put together a template form letter for contacting your MP, sharing your story as a postal worker, and asking them to respect our rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

To find your MP, click HERE. This website will ask you to enter your postal code, which will return your current MP. Once you find your MP, you can find an email address and mailing address.

To use this letter, please edit the bold areas to contain the proper information for you.

To MP [First name] [Last name],

I'm writing today to ask that you oppose all back-to-work legislation, which effectively removes my right to collectively bargain as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

As a member of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, I have some experience with back-to-work legislation. Successive governments have imposed back-to-work legislation: the Harper government in 2011 and the Trudeau government in 2018. This has led to a worsening relationship between our union and Canada Post, which increases the likelihood of labour disruptions. In turn, this has a negative impact on all Canadians, including your constituents.

Our union has not been able to negotiate a contract with our employer since 2007; instead the government has imposed regressive contracts on us. This has allowed Canada Post to spit in the face of one of the most important values of our union, and of all Canadians: equal pay for equal work. The government-imposed contracts have resulted in our new members being forced to accept a two-tier wage and benefit contract, where they're not treated equally despite doing the same work. Now, with a profitable pension fund, it seems the employer is trying to go after new members' pensions, which will widen the gap between the two tiers of our union's members.

It should be apparent just how unfair this is.

[Please include a paragraph or two about how this issue has affected you personally. Be polite and respectful in your language.]

We're not looking for Members of Parliament to fight our battles for us. All we're asking is that you commit to standing up to protect our rights as guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and oppose any efforts to impose back-to-work legislation on CUPW members.

Sincerely,

[Your name]