Canada Post Strike

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I don't see why they're striking now. They should be going on strike just before Christmas.

I would have to assume that part of their CBA states that you can't strike while a contract is in effect. If they wait until Christmas to strike, that means they're without a contract for another 6 months.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

I would have to assume that part of their CBA states that you can't strike while a contract is in effect. If they wait until Christmas to strike, that means they're without a contract for another 6 months.

Wouldn't be out of the ordinary. Unions have kept the status quo and worked without a contract before for longer than 6 months. Canada Post maybe have different laws than the City of Calgary for example.

[Byrns]

Don't think the posties have much public support, but can you imagine how little there would be during a Christmas strike?

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Dion

I'm hoping members have money socked away for strike as it could be a long one. Funny thing is the head of your union will still be collecting his or her full wages while you collect strike pay.

Sounds like the strike is for the purposes of proving the value of existence of the UNION instead of protecting the interest of the members of the union.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Don't think the posties have much public support, but can you imagine how little there would be during a Christmas strike?

I'm not sure public support is an issue. The idea of striking is to put the company in such a bad position that they have to concede.

[HeartsOfFire]

I sure hope all the anti-union posters in this thread don't buy Heinz condiments.

They'd have to throw them out.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

I sure hope all the anti-union posters in this thread don't buy Heinz condiments.

They'd have to throw them out.

Why is that?

[HeartsOfFire]

All Heinz products are union made. Says so right on the reverse label.

[ken0042]

If I was so anti-union that I was looking to boycott union made products; I'd be more worried about not being able to drink beer than use ketchup.

I also think I'd be unhappy about not driving a car either. Or that I'd have to home school my kids.

Not sure how ketchup made the top of that list for you.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If I was so anti-union that I was looking to boycott union made products; I'd be more worried about not being able to drink beer than use ketchup.

I also think I'd be unhappy about not driving a car either. Or that I'd have to home school my kids.

Not sure how ketchup made the top of that list for you.

Ketchup is the king of condiments. duh!

[4X4]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If I was so anti-union that I was looking to boycott union made products; I'd be more worried about not being able to drink beer than use ketchup.

I also think I'd be unhappy about not driving a car either. Or that I'd have to home school my kids.

Not sure how ketchup made the top of that list for you.

Damn, I forgot to wait for HOF's dumass post. I was also going to point out that we can't ride transit either, or even live inside the city, for that matter. And I better cancel Telus, and just live on a farm and grow my own food.

But I can see how Ketchup was the most important union made thing I consume.

[HeartsOfFire]

The way some people vehemently attack unions whenever a thread centered around them surfaces, I'm genuinely surprised that people here on calgarypuck aren't going out of their way to avoid union products and services wherever possible.

I learned the hard way that I am among the very small minority of pro-union advocates here, and that most of my arguments would fall on deaf ears. Or, in the case of 4X4, outright mocked (on that note, it'd be interesting to see how the moderators react. I'm guessing they won't).

Perhaps the anti-union crowd grudgingly acknowledges that unions are everywhere and it's inevitable that they would have to come across one in some form. Perhaps the anti-union crowd thus only rear their collective heads when said union is battling for improved working conditions or to prevent losing certain benefits they hold dear.

I merely wanted to point out to the anti-union crowd that if they feel so strongly about their mindset that they wanted to feel like they were making an impact, they could stop buying Heinz products. A simple change, you probably wouldn't even notice.

But no, it's more entertaining to belittle the guy posting the suggestion instead, isn't it? Hope that no matter what the rest of your day throws at you, you can sleep better tonight knowing you showed me.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

I merely wanted to point out to the anti-union crowd that if they feel so strongly about their mindset that they wanted to feel like they were making an impact, they could stop buying Heinz products. A simple change, you probably wouldn't even notice.

A big difference is that CP does not operate in a competitive market so you have no choice.

That being say, I thank those few CP employees on this forum providing me with insight on how CP works. If it was me, I would have stepped away from this predominately anti-union forum and yet they keep coming back with informative posts.

My anti-union rants are directed towards the union itself and not they as employees. Hope this will get resolved in an amicable fashion in a short period of time.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

The way some people vehemently attack unions whenever a thread centered around them surfaces, I'm genuinely surprised that people here on calgarypuck aren't going out of their way to avoid union products and services wherever possible.

I learned the hard way that I am among the very small minority of pro-union advocates here, and that most of my arguments would fall on deaf ears. Or, in the case of 4X4, outright mocked (on that note, it'd be interesting to see how the moderators react. I'm guessing they won't).

Perhaps the anti-union crowd grudgingly acknowledges that unions are everywhere and it's inevitable that they would have to come across one in some form. Perhaps the anti-union crowd thus only rear their collective heads when said union is battling for improved working conditions or to prevent losing certain benefits they hold dear.

I merely wanted to point out to the anti-union crowd that if they feel so strongly about their mindset that they wanted to feel like they were making an impact, they could stop buying Heinz products. A simple change, you probably wouldn't even notice.

But no, it's more entertaining to belittle the guy posting the suggestion instead, isn't it? Hope that no matter what the rest of your day throws at you, you can sleep better tonight knowing you showed me.

You misunderstand. It's not the product that I have a problem with, it's the union. Most of these companies (both management and employees) don't even have a choice at this point whether there's a union. It's there, and it's not leaving.
So why would I bother boycotting union made products, when almost everything in manufacturing is unionized? I disagree with unions. I think they're useless 99/100x. I think they are hypocritical within their own management. I think they bite the hand that feeds blindly. I think they are too slow to adapt to changing economic environments, yet they expect the company they work for to do just that to remain profitable.
But at the end of the day, I have little desire to actively boycott unions. I simply don't work for one. I did once and it drove me crazy, so I moved on.

My "mockery" of your post was not union related, it was more aimed at the all or nothing mentality of internet arguing. Because I don't like unions I can't consume union made products? I still like business, and I have no problem with the top dog at Heinz making a gazillion dollars, so I'll continue to buy ketchup, TYVM.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

I merely wanted to point out to the anti-union crowd that if they feel so strongly about their mindset that they wanted to feel like they were making an impact, they could stop buying Heinz products. A simple change, you probably wouldn't even notice.

Hey, hey, hey. Don't paint us all with the same brush. I personally go out of my way to purchase products made by the tiny hands of exploited children in Indonesia, Thailand, India, China and elsewhere...

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

The way some people vehemently attack unions whenever a thread centered around them surfaces, I'm genuinely surprised that people here on calgarypuck aren't going out of their way to avoid union products and services wherever possible.

I learned the hard way that I am among the very small minority of pro-union advocates here, and that most of my arguments would fall on deaf ears. Or, in the case of 4X4, outright mocked (on that note, it'd be interesting to see how the moderators react. I'm guessing they won't).

Perhaps the anti-union crowd grudgingly acknowledges that unions are everywhere and it's inevitable that they would have to come across one in some form. Perhaps the anti-union crowd thus only rear their collective heads when said union is battling for improved working conditions or to prevent losing certain benefits they hold dear.

I merely wanted to point out to the anti-union crowd that if they feel so strongly about their mindset that they wanted to feel like they were making an impact, they could stop buying Heinz products. A simple change, you probably wouldn't even notice.

But no, it's more entertaining to belittle the guy posting the suggestion instead, isn't it? Hope that no matter what the rest of your day throws at you, you can sleep better tonight knowing you showed me.

[HeartsOfFire]

Originally Posted by zuluking

Another poster that should be suspended, but probably won't be, because hypocrisy reigns supreme here.

Originally Posted by 4X4

My "mockery" of your post was not union related, it was more aimed at the all or nothing mentality of internet arguing.

You didn't mock my post, you mocked me. It's nothing new, I've been ridiculed numerous times here because I hold what some views many might consider antiquated or immoral. I can take it, and I can dish it right back. I've been reprimanded once for it, and warned a second time,

What I now have a problem with is how I add my input to the thread, and while not everyone may agree, two other members--yourself included--have felt it necessary to insult me. You directly called me a dumbass, though you ironically spelled it incorrectly. And you are getting away with it scot-free.

Makes me wish I could hurl a string of personal attacks your way, but knowing this forum and the incredibly common occurrence of retaliation being punished rather than the first offense, I shall refrain.

Back on topic, I love unions, and I think every business should have one. They have done far more good than harm for all non-management employees, the people that get the work done, the reason why everyone else above them is able to make their bazillions and golden handshakes. No business can succeed without labour, yet it's always labour where the most cost mitigation occurs. The boss, or his bosses, or the Executives never stop to consider, 'you know, I could really help the company if I took a 10% cut in salary,' so why should the unionized workers? A department director could deal with a smaller budget by laying off a couple employees, and at the end of the fiscal year when he reports to his direct report that he came in under budget, he'll get a fat bonus!

It's this mentality that's made me so jaded where I work. My employer cares not one lick about me outside of my education and skill-set (what they pay me for), and in turn, I care nothing about them besides the paycheque every second Thursday. If they feel that they'd be better off without me, then I'll go find someplace else to work. Maybe a direct competitor.

I used to love working where I work. It gave me a sense of pride. Now, I tell no one that doesn't need to know, because I'm not proud anymore. This once good, Canadian company now off shores what it believes to be menial work to inexperienced and unconfident residents off Eastern Asia because they'll work for peanuts compared to who used to work in the department. And it's because of this incredible cost savings that even when these off-shored contractors make costly mistakes, the company still comes out ahead. Good for the shareholders, yes. Bad for PR.

At the end of the day though, most people really don't care. Not the outsider looking in or the customer paying for the service. All they care about is are they getting what they paid for, whether it was brought to them by a fellow Canadian or a child in a sweatshop.

I fully expect now to be further ridiculed and mocked for my pro-union stance. Hit me with your best shots.

[PeteLFan]

^^^

[Drury18]

The posties are really phoning it in. Got my mail today: 2 pieces of mail delivered to the wrong address (one two doors away, another for someone in the SW not even close to me) and 6 of the exact same unaddressed mailout for a Cochrane Retirement home.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by HeartsOfFire

The way some people vehemently attack unions whenever a thread centered around them surfaces, I'm genuinely surprised that people here on calgarypuck aren't going out of their way to avoid union products and services wherever possible.

I learned the hard way that I am among the very small minority of pro-union advocates here, and that most of my arguments would fall on deaf ears. Or, in the case of 4X4, outright mocked (on that note, it'd be interesting to see how the moderators react. I'm guessing they won't).

Perhaps the anti-union crowd grudgingly acknowledges that unions are everywhere and it's inevitable that they would have to come across one in some form. Perhaps the anti-union crowd thus only rear their collective heads when said union is battling for improved working conditions or to prevent losing certain benefits they hold dear.

I merely wanted to point out to the anti-union crowd that if they feel so strongly about their mindset that they wanted to feel like they were making an impact, they could stop buying Heinz products. A simple change, you probably wouldn't even notice.

But no, it's more entertaining to belittle the guy posting the suggestion instead, isn't it? Hope that no matter what the rest of your day throws at you, you can sleep better tonight knowing you showed me.

Actually, they probably do buy less unionized products than you think - non-unionized companies on the whole are able to offer more competitive prices than unionized shops because their costs per employee are lower and their productivity is higher.

I'm also impressed how unionized employees can shop at places like Walmart.