Canada Post likely will be locked out/on strike - July 2

[jammies]

Pro and anti union is as foolish as "left" and "right" - unions have an important role to play in any advanced economy, but they can become too powerful, just like companies can. As soon as someone starts railing against "unions" as if they are some monolithic bloc, I assume they are as clueless as someone railing against "big business" as if it is some cohesive entity.

[monkeyman]

I'll take Canada post for parcels any day of the week. not only do they have the ability to drop off packages at my neighbourhood drop box, I can pick up larger/more expensive packages from my neighbourhood shoppers until 9:00pm.

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by Locke

But, but, but, the 2 week cooling off period was collectively bargained for and ergo is the greatest thing ever. Management cant just 'change its mind' on things that were collectively bargained for!

The 2 week cooling off period is not negotiated, it's part of the labour board mandated process before any company or union can institute a work stoppage.

[Hockey]

https://www.raisethehammer.org/artic...misinformation


Only thing I don't agree with is the job being hard, but that's easy for me to say as I have a a good route and a pretty laid back station. My route is actually the longest in our station at 503 minutes, 480 is what we are supposed to be at. I get over assessment pay though because of it and I'm not complaining. Also I'm fairly young, so who knows if/when my body will start to break down.

Another thing that bugs me and a lot of the people I work with is we never get a chance to vote on any proposals sent to us. Everyone that I have talked to has liked the offer they sent us, but cupw is rejecting it without even letting the members have a say. Now that that happens we are surely going to get a much worse offer then the ones they just offered us.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Hockey

Another thing that bugs me and a lot of the people I work with is we never get a chance to vote on any proposals sent to us. Everyone that I have talked to has liked the offer they sent us, but cupw is rejecting it without even letting the members have a say. Now that that happens we are surely going to get a much worse offer then the ones they just offered us.

Pretty standard fare with any Union I've ever been in.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

For what it is worth anecdotally, I just spoke to a CP mail carrier and he seemed really pissed. He indicated that all of his colleagues feel the same.

Said he doesn't think the union has their best interests in mind and will cut off their nose to spite their face.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

For what it is worth anecdotally, I just spoke to a CP mail carrier and he seemed really pissed. He indicated that all of his colleagues feel the same.

Said he doesn't think the union has their best interests in mind and will cut off their nose to spite their face.

I read similar sentiments from CP employees of Redflagdeals. It sounds like the union members didn't even get a chance to vote on the deal and that the union just rejected the offer. There are many folks claiming that they would have voted to accept the offer.

I truly believe that, for the most part, unions really don't care about their members but instead care only about their membership dues. They are a business like any other and more revenue means higher salaries and more perks for the union bosses. The #1 concern for unions is growing membership and revenue. I don't know the specifics but I'm sure that every time the unions negotiate higher pay and more benefits for the membership their union dues also increase. I doubt any union has ever dropped the union dues in order to help workers keep more money in their pockets and increase their quality of life.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I read similar sentiments from CP employees of Redflagdeals. It sounds like the union members didn't even get a chance to vote on the deal and that the union just rejected the offer. There are many folks claiming that they would have voted to accept the offer.

I truly believe that, for the most part, unions really don't care about their members but instead care only about their membership dues. They are a business like any other and more revenue means higher salaries and more perks for the union bosses. The #1 concern for unions is growing membership and revenue. I don't know the specifics but I'm sure that every time the unions negotiate higher pay and more benefits for the membership their union dues also increase. I doubt any union has ever dropped the union dues in order to help workers keep more money in their pockets and increase their quality of life.

I didn't elaborate on the second paragraph in my post to not seem to personally biased, but yeah the vibe I got was exactly that. He seemed quite resentful that his union only cared about doing what was best for the union, not for the members/employees.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I truly believe that, for the most part, unions really don't care about their members but instead care only about their membership dues. They are a business like any other and more revenue means higher salaries and more perks for the union bosses. The #1 concern for unions is growing membership and revenue. I don't know the specifics but I'm sure that every time the unions negotiate higher pay and more benefits for the membership their union dues also increase. I doubt any union has ever dropped the union dues in order to help workers keep more money in their pockets and increase their quality of life.

I don't think you know much of anything about unions, how dues work, what they pay for, union governance, or the countless hours activists and "union bosses" spend fighting for their members.

Unions aren't a business, and suggesting they are is stupid. Full stop.

The only part of your post that seems valid is

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I don't know the specifics

Indeed.

[Locke]

The other issue with Unions in scenarios like this is that it isnt just the 'Postal Workers' Union. Their Union represents a whole swathe of other groups of workers and so they want to set the precedent of rejecting the first offer out of principle.

So sure, the offer might have been great for the Postal Workers but thats not good enough for the Union itself.

[Resolute 14]

Unions shouldn't be a business, Resurrection. But if the recent anecdotes in this thread are any indication, CUPW doesn't seem terribly interested in representing the wishes of the members right now. If we hold that to be true, then what, exactly, should we classify CUPW as?

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I wonder if I would have noticed this next month if I missed this thread.

Whoops, forgot about my passport renewal. #### you, past Finger Cookin.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Unions shouldn't be a business, Resurrection. But if the recent anecdotes in this thread are any indication, CUPW doesn't seem terribly interested in representing the wishes of the members right now. If we hold that to be true, then what, exactly, should we classify CUPW as?

They aren't. Period. There's no "shouldn't". Is there a shady union out there somewhere? Probably. But I don't judge all businesses by the worst and so shouldn't anyone of unions.

Unions don't have a profit motive. The more dues and members that exist simply go to the administration and legal of a union. The biggest line item of any union is legal and bargaining. The idea that there's some union fat cats making a fortune off union dues is naive, ignorant, and trump style pandering to businesses who want nothing to do with unions who ensure people get a decent wage and benefits.

[White Out 403]

double post

[northcrunk]

Any union I have worked for is the same. They really only care about their dues and how much they can suck from the workers. They really don't have the workers interest at heart or else they would let them vote on the deal. It's usually the laziest people who are union reps and they get such a bad ego. Ego+stupidity=Unions

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Any union I have worked for is the same. They really only care about their dues and how much they can suck from the workers. They really don't have the workers interest at heart or else they would let them vote on the deal. It's usually the laziest people who are union reps and they get such a bad ego. Ego+stupidity=Unions

Which unions were those?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by jammies

Pro and anti union is as foolish as "left" and "right" - unions have an important role to play in any advanced economy, but they can become too powerful, just like companies can. As soon as someone starts railing against "unions" as if they are some monolithic bloc, I assume they are as clueless as someone railing against "big business" as if it is some cohesive entity.

Both sides are out to get what they can. When I rail against big business, it's mostly to do with the laws that have been passed that favour them over unions and the middle class that I'm against. It's become no longer an even playing field and big business has even convinced the ordinary guy, against his own best interests, that unions are evil.

[Slava]

So the strike is post-poned as the union is making a new offer. Would be next weekend now instead of Monday.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Any union I have worked for is the same. They really only care about their dues and how much they can suck from the workers. They really don't have the workers interest at heart or else they would let them vote on the deal. It's usually the laziest people who are union reps and they get such a bad ego. Ego+stupidity=Unions

My experience with union reps have been positive for the most part. They work hard to get work related issues resolved and to the satisfaction of both the employee and the employer.

Voting on deals can be a huge issue when you give your union the mandate to strike. At that point in time any future votes are decided by the head of the union. The negotiating comittee is involved but don't get to make the final say on weather to vote or not.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Both sides are out to get what they can. When I rail against big business, it's mostly to do with the laws that have been passed that favour them over unions and the middle class that I'm against. It's become no longer an even playing field and big business has even convinced the ordinary guy, against his own best interests, that unions are evil.

Unions have a huge advantage when it comes to strikes as members can get other jobs during a work stappage. Should companies try to use scab labour you get unions having a hissy fit crying fowl