Postal Workers Begin Strike in Winnipeg

OTTAWA, June 3, 2011 /CNW/ - The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) began a 24 hour strike in Winnipeg at 11:59 p.m. EDT last night and will continue to pull out workers and rotate the strike to other locations after this period.

"We're starting in Winnipeg because it is the first place where Canada Post brought in the new machines and work methods that are causing so many problems for the public and postal workers," said CUPW National President Denis Lemelin.

Lemelin said CUPW has been trying to get Canada Post to deal with service and health and safety problems for more than three years but management has refused. Consequently, the union has been forced to bring these issues to the bargaining table.

"We have a dangerous workplace that needs to be fixed but Canada Post won't listen to us," said Lemelin.

"The strike's purpose is to create leverage in order to encourage Canada Post to abandon its dangerous approach to modernization and their many concessions. The goal is still the same. We want to negotiate solutions."

"We have done our very best to get an agreement without a strike. Unfortunately, Canada Post has left us with no other choice. We cannot accept unsafe and unfair conditions."

Lemelin said that CUPW's negotiators are prepared to keep trying to negotiate a contract.

For further information:

Aalya Ahmad, Communications Specialist, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Cell: 613-327-1177, Email: [e-mail] , CUPW website: www.cupw.ca