Local Dispatch (24/08/21)
Friends and comrades,
In this week's Dispatch, we will be covering negotiations updates, the September GMM, writing to your Member of Parliament, an upcoming meeting and course offerings from the Education Committee, as well as an update on the Women's Committee Equinox.
Negotiations Update
On August 20th, almost 300 members who make up Local Executives met with members of the National Executive to be briefed on contract negotiations. According to members of the negotiation committees, the employer was not willing to budge and after months of negotiations, this is why the Notice of Dispute had to be served.
In the end, the employer's demands were presented as a list of rollbacks that no union could possibly accept.
National President Jan Simpson has also recently released a bulletin in response to a recent letter from CPC CEO Doug Ettinger that was sent to all employees. This letter stresses the financial hardship the Corporation is facing.
In her response, Jan focuses on how CPC's non-labour costs have increased by over one billion dollars per year, a 56.5% increase. To read the full bulletin from Jan, click HERE.
September GMM
Our next GMM is happening on September 7th at 10 am. This GMM is happening at the Rundle Family Centre at Rundle Park (2909 113 Ave). We have a lot of committees that are up for election, such as the Election Committee, Environment Committee, and Youth Committee (for a full list, see the agenda HERE). Joining a committee is a great way to get involved and see the different ways that you can contribute and help keep our Local active!
The GMM is followed by a family-friendly strike preparation event and a town hall discussion, where the latest in negotiation updates and strike details will be shared. There will also be time for questions and answers, and this will also be a good opportunity to have a candid discussion with Local leadership about what to expect during a strike period or any other concerns you may have with our union.
Write To Your Member of Parliament!
A member of the Edmonton Local has put together a template for writing a letter to your MP. The purpose of this letter is to ask your MP to respect our rights during bargaining as well as to share your experiences as a postal worker with your MP.
If you would like to use this template, click HERE. This post also contains information for how to find your MP's email address and mailing address.
Education Committee Updates
The next Education Committee meeting is happening on August 27th at 7:30 pm. To attend this meeting, see our website post HERE.
If you are interested in applying for the EDLC Fall School, you can find more information HERE. There is also an upcoming Regional offering of Turtle Island, and you can find more information about that HERE.
Women's Committee Equinox Update
Plans have changed for the Women's Committee Equinox event. It is now going to be a one-day event on September 7th at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre (52535 Range Road 212, Uncas, AB). There will be lunch, guest speakers, and a dinner to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Women's Committee.
If you have any questions or if you would like to apply, you can contact the Women's Committee at womenof730@gmail.com
Reminders