I have read so many news reports the last few months all mentioning the Canada Post negotiations, the potential for and now very real strike,  and the end of the current CUPW collective agreements. These articles mention disruption of services and how those disruptions affect Canada Post financially. How any disruptions will or are affecting businesses, and rural communities. How disruptions at this time of year affect delivery of Christmas presents. What I have not yet seen, heard or read anywhere is how this is affecting the UNION MEMBERS, and not just the members but their families as well.

Are we really at a point in our history where Christmas packages, inconvenient travel distances, and service disruptions are being deemed as more important than the Union members and their families?  Their incomes, their pensions, their job security? 55, 000 people lost their extended health benefits over night. Think of how their Christmas will be affected. The money they are NOT earning atm. The stress they are experiencing. The prescriptions that are no longer covered. The presents they can't buy for their families. 

As the chronically ill, disabled spouse of a Canada Post CUPW, RSMC, not having extended medical affects me also. My husband's lack of  income for the duration of this strike, affects me also. If my husband gets laid off, that affects me also, and how many other CUPW  members or their family members? 

If things don't get settled amicably and soon. There could potentially be further loss of services, potential post office closures, extended  service disruptions Canada Post could do more lay offs.

55,000 union members, these are real people who Should be paid fair wages for a fair days work. They Should have proper pensions, not just for current members, but future members as well. They deserve to have safe working conditions, in any weather environment.  They deserve paid medical days, they currently have ZERO medical days,  they only have personal days. They should get improved group medical plans that include increased coverage for health specialists. They should ALL be getting paid hourly, with paid breaks, some of them currently have no breaks. They deserve improved rights for their on call employees. And if delivery services extend to include weekend delivery, they deserve to have it, in writing, that their current and future weekday positions are secure. 

It is being said that Canada Post is NOT negotiating in good faith and is now waiting for the government to legislate the workers back to work.  Some Postal workers are asking members of the public to contact their local MP to ask them not to pass such legislation. The onus is being placed on the CUPW Union members and not on the Canada Post Corporation itself. This is not ok.

Canada Post, you need to do better by your Union Members.