Canada Post workers return to work and hope Canadians will take up their cause
The workers' union is hoping to drum up public support for a continued full-sized Canada Post
Canadians should start receiving mail again on Tuesday, after Canada Post workers shift from nationwide strike action to a rotating strike on Saturday morning.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which represents 55,000 Canada Post employees, says the battle for a fair collective agreement continues, but that the downgraded labour action allows workers to resume their jobs and remind Canadians that a full postal service is worth fighting for.
“[With] the majority of our workers back to work, people are able to go out and talk to the public,” said Jim Gallant, a CUPW negotiator. “The public sees what worth there is in the post office.”
The union and Canada Post have been trying to negotiate a new collective agreement for more than a year and a half. But that’s not the union’s only battle. Postal workers launched a nationwide strike two weeks ago — the second since last year — after the federal government announced sweeping changes to the Crown corporation.
Ottawa has called for Canada Post to end home delivery and close some rural mail outlets to stabilize the indebted company and ensure its survival. The Crown corporation hasn't been profitable since 2017, reporting a $1.3-billion loss last year. It says it's on track to lose $1.5 billion this year, staying afloat with a $1-billion government loan. (CUPW has suggested Canada Post is embellishing some of these figures. The company didn't respond to CBC's request for comment on the claim.)
CUPW has pledged to fight Ottawa's announced reforms to Canada Post, and is hoping Canadians take up the cause.
“[Ottawa is] going to cut the arms and the legs off of it. The service is not going to be what it's supposed to be. It's not going to be what Canadians need,” said Gallant. “Canadians need to call their MP; they need to go to their city council.”
Labour expert Rafael Gomez says the union faces a difficult challenge: negotiating a new collective agreement while also drumming up public opposition to Ottawa's planned cuts.
“You have to balance it out because if it's not going to be disruptive, then the employer has no real cost to bear,” said Gomez, an employment relations professor at the University of Toronto. “If it is too disruptive, then the public is affected.
“It's this balancing act.”
Watch out for mail delays
CUPW’s Gallant says the rotating strikes will delay mail delivery in some parts of Canada. He also hinted that workers could resume a nationwide strike at any point.
“Different people [will be off work] continually over the next while, until either we have a collective agreement or the union decides to change our strike activity,” he said.
Still, the resumption of mail delivery is welcome news for Kathryn Gallagher Morton, founder of Maplelea, a small business that sells online Canadian-themed dolls.
She’s set to mail out tens of thousands of print catalogues next week featuring her dolls, the biggest driver of the business's holiday sales.
“I was thrilled,” said Gallagher Morton, of when she heard the news. “It just makes a huge, huge difference to our company and what we'll be able to do this Christmas.”
However, she says she won’t be sending a letter to her local MP, asking the federal government to save the traditional postal service.
Gallagher Morton says she lost over $300,000 in sales due to last year's strike, prompting her to switch permanently to private delivery for most doll deliveries. Although she still relies on Canada Post to deliver catalogues, she says that like Ottawa, she supports a downsized postal service.
“I'm a Canadian who pays taxes and I think that the government should operate as fiscally responsibly as possible,” she said. “The whole world has to shift. Times are changing, and I think Canada Post needs to change its model.”
Still, some rural communities heavily reliant on Canada Post worry a smaller operation would impact many of their residents.
Lori Hoddinott, the mayor of McNab/Braeside, told CBC News in September that 60 per cent of her rural community, located just west of Ottawa, largely consists of older farmers who rely on home delivery. Cutting that service would create hardships for them, she said.
"If it's on the senior to get down the laneway and go 15 kilometres up rural winter road to get to the mail, they're not going to do it every day," she said.
Canada Post has said it's maintaining its program that allows for people with mobility issues to arrange for options like weekly home delivery.
Canada Post responds
Canada Post said in a statement on Friday that it welcomes back its employees, but has warned customers of “uncertainty and instability” in service due to the rotating strikes.
The Crown corporation also said it’s ready to return to the bargaining table, and that it’s still waiting to hear back from the union on its latest offer, made on Oct. 3.
It includes a 13.59 per cent wage increase over four years, health and retirement benefits and up to seven weeks of vacation. But the offer also removes a signing bonus that the corporation says it can no longer afford.
Canada Post union moving to rotating strikes on SaturdayCUPW said last week in a statement that the latest proposal is taking "major steps backwards."
However, Canada Post has made no indication it plans to sweeten the deal, and it continues to support the government’s plan for a smaller postal service.
“The need to align the business to the current needs of the country, to reduce the dependency on taxpayer dollars, grows more urgent each day this strike continues,” it said in a statement.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Amos
Methinks the Canadian Union of Postal Workers should talk to me ASAP N'esy Pas?
NAFTA - Chapter 11 - Investment
Cases filed against the Government of Canada
United Parcel Service of America, Inc. v. Government of Canada
Claimant
United Parcel Services (UPS) is a company incorporated in the State of Delaware in the United States. It provides courier and small package delivery services in numerous countries including in Canada through American and Canadian subsidiaries.
Articles
1102 (National Treatment)
1105 (Minimum Standard of Treatment)
1502 (Monopolies and State Enterprises)
1503 (State Enterprises)
Damages claimed
$160 million USD
Status
Won. Majority of the Tribunal dismissed the claim. The Tribunal did not award any costs to Canada
If Canada Post has been losing business for a number of years now, I don't know why the government or its management didn't start the downsizing process some time ago. This could have been done with an early retirement incentive package that would encourage workers reaching a certain age and with a specified number of years of service to retire early. Meanwhile fewer or no new workers would have been hired. Maybe some of these were already proposed, but I didn't hear of them.
David Amos
Reply to Edward Katz
Some folks wish to keep Canada Post whether it has been losing business or not
Walter Vrbetic
"...but that the downgraded labour action allows workers to resume their jobs and remind Canadians that a full postal service is worth fighting for."
And allows most to draw a paycheque, strike pay doesn't pay the bills.
David Amos
Reply to Walter Vrbetic
True
Bob Seusers
Blacksmith union showing solidarity with the Posties.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Seusers
Go Figure
Barney Bell
Too funny - CUPW think Canadians will support them!
David Amos
Reply to Barney Bell
Some of us do
Iain Basedord
I don't need flyers and junk mail daily. I don't need it at all. I get 4 items by mail monthly, all the same week. I'd be happy with once every 2 weeks.
David Amos
Reply to Iain Basedord
Some folks require Hard Copy ASAP
Tom Smith
Make delivery once a week NOT daily
David Amos
Reply to Tom Smith
I hope NOT
Walter Vrbetic
Reply to Tom Smith
I wouldn't have an issue with two times a week...
Rob Smith
And in other news, CUTS (the Canadian Union of Telegraph Signallers) has announced that they will go on strike in support of CUPW. The head of CUTS states that he realizes that this will result in a drastic backlog of long-distance telegraph messages for Canadians but he also states that that newfangled telephone thing is not as important to Canadians as telegrams.
Bob Seusers
Reply to Rob Smith
It'll never fly😃😃
David Amos
Reply to Rob Smith
Say Hey to Carney for me will ya?
Ric Smith
Put their final severance and pay checks in the mail.
David Amos
Pending approval
Reply to Ric Smith
You seem bitter
Won't working fewer hours for less annual pay kinda validate the premise that cutting back the Post Office is viable? Not sure the Union has thought this through completely.
David Amos
Reply to Andrew Farmer
Ask them
Randy Williams
Union leadership cares not. They get their 6 or 7 figure incomes regardless. THAT IS THE PROBLEM!
David Amos
Reply to Randy Williams
True
James Rhymer
Most companies during this time have pushed to eliminate mail service . Door to door is not necessary anymore .
I wish Canada post only focused on parcel delivery like Amazon or other carriers . That would make use of all Canada posts vehicles!
I can’t believe the management and ceo of post would give in to worker demands .
It was a good run for postal workers but times have changed years ago now !
David Amos
Reply to James Rhymer
"Door to door is not necessary anymore"
I disagree
In other news, Donnie T has announced he has found the cure for cancer, while at the same time brokering another peace deal, this time between Peru and Tajikistan. Details to follow:)
David Amos
Reply to Jack Anderson
Donnie T thinks he is the man to deal with constant sorrow or is it Soros?
Mark Lawrence
My mailman's a really nice guy and we talk a lot. He's a 6 year CP worker but he started a side business as he realizes that a long term CP career is probably not going to work out for him.
David Amos
Reply to Mark Lawrence
Methinks he may rethink that N'esy Pas?
William James
The constant labour strife, especially at the Holiday Season, has taken away any sympathy that I had for the entire organization. Bad political leadership started the decline years ago.
David Amos
Reply to William James
Yup
Doug Cannon
During the Con' era; https://www.cupw.ca/en/campaign/save-canada-post/resources/better-public-postal-service-everyone-its-time
Doug Cannon
Reply to Doug Cannon
Now;
SaveCanadaPost.ca
Reply to Doug Cannon
Save dodobird. ca
Doug Cannon
Reply to Doug Cannon
And recently with the Lib's now recommending the loss of 'door to door' !!
They received a subsequent note from me stating, after five decades of my vote, due to this parroted' recommendation, which they had previously shutdown ! ... They have lost it' {to be given to the third' party} :-l
.
Reply to Doug Cannon
Social media is the last place labour is going to find support
Bob Seusers
Reply to james bolt
Or from creditors..
David Amos
Reply to james bolt
So you say
Marcel Stanford
Most Canadians remember Canada Post constantly striking...every couple of years it seemed.
Now that technology has developed to the point we no longer need them I say good riddance.
Peter Hill
Reply to Marcel Stanford
Now it just costs you more.
David Amos
Reply to Marcel Stanford
I disagree
Randy Williams
Reply to Peter Hill
Like everything else. Why would this be any different?
Jack Anderson
In other news, the federal blue team announces they plan to actually win a federal election in this country within the next 2 decades or so.
Reply to Jack Anderson
Reply to Eric Hamilton
Define NDP
Bob Seusers
Reply to David Amos
The NDP struggle with that too.
Peter Hill
Reply to Jack Anderson
According to the blue team they did win the last election, that’s why they’re keeping the same leader.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Seusers
Oh So True
John Hoagie
Reply to Peter Hill
The same leader decided to stay on, the party will decide what to do with him in January.
Peter Hill
Reply to John Hoagie
He called it a victory so there is no need to change anything.
John Hoagie
Reply to Peter Hill
Not his decision.
Peter Hill
Reply to John Hoagie
Party agrees with him. Blue victory is losing the election and losing the leaders seat.
Bob Seusers
Reply to Peter Hill
And then gaining 20 more seats..
Peter Hill
Reply to Bob Seusers
See, big victory for blue!
Bob Seusers
Reply to Peter Hill
Big victory for Canada.. no. 23 quit.
Peter Hill
Reply to Bob Seusers
Losing an election is a victory for blue.
Bob Seusers
Reply to Peter Hill
Losing no. 23 was a blessing.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Seusers
How so?
Peter Hill
Reply to Bob Seusers
Blue losing was the victory. Keeping their current leader will ensure years of more blessings.
Bob Seusers
Reply to David Amos
Where you been the last ten years?
David Amos
Reply to Bob Seusers
Running for public office etc
David Amos
Reply to Bob Seusers
Then there is this 10 years ago Federal Court File No T-1557-15
Bob Seusers
Reply to David Amos
Now do something more recent.. like the Plans of Abraham..
David Amos
Pending approval
Reply to Bob Seusers
I already published my latest email to Carney et al
Bob Seusers
Reply to Bob Seusers
Plains
Helen Cochrane
They're gonna do what they're gonna do, a lot of people have moved on from relying on them.
David Amos
Reply to Helen Cochrane
Nay not I
Helen Cochrane
Reply to David Amos
We've switched over to getting our bills online, we don't want to have any late payments.
David Amos
Reply to Helen Cochrane
What if the bank locks your account like they did mine?
Helen Cochrane
Reply to David Amos
We haven't had that happen. We don't do online banking, we just get our bills online.
David Amos
Reply to Helen Cochrane
Wise
Doug Cannon
Reply to David Amos
Till IT is hacked by AI !?
David Amos
Reply to Doug Cannon
???
ralph jacobs
It's hard to support someone or something that is going to raise prices on many things.
Jack Anderson
Reply to ralph jacobs
So you are not a big fan of the Canadian grocery store price gougers, eh ralph?
ralph jacobs
Reply to Jack Anderson
That is a big for sure.
David Amos
Reply to ralph jacobs
I concur
Sam Carson
Reply to ralph jacobs
What business doesn't raise prices?
David Amos
Reply to Sam Carson
Widget producers
Orly Vardeny
Reply to Sam Carson
The only example that pops to mind, is the Costco "hot dog & drink combo." It's stayed at $1.50 for years & years, maybe a decade. Even their bottled water (finally) went up from 25 cents, to 35 / 500 mL.
Now, we're not sure what said dog is exactly made of....
When I was isolated in Quebec, I loved seeing the Canada Post mail delivery truck. It was the only thing Canadiana there.
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
You were isolated in Quebec? Why?
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
French language and culture.
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
I missed English Canada a lot, but I was there for almost ten years.
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
You do know that Quebec is more "Canadian " than the rest of Canada, as they were here much before the English came, right?
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
Whatever. I missed the English language and culture.
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
The Quebec nation you mean?
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
So you were surrounded by "Canadiana" all along, and not just by the Canada Post truck? Got it!
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
No, the Canadian nation.
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
No, I don’t think you do.
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
Oh, I definitely do. Just out of curiosity, why did you stay in Quebec for 10 years, if you felt so isolated?
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
It took me that long to leave.
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
It took 10 years of isolation for you to finally leave? That seems like an awful long time to decide.
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
I was in university then I left a few years after I finished because I wasn’t fluent in French and you need to be to survive there.
David Amos
Reply to Jack Anderson
Yea Right
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
I lived in Montreal for 7 years without being fluent in the French language and I survived very well. Maybe it was you?
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
Obviously you worked at an English organization.
Bob Seusers
Reply to Jack Anderson
Let's go back to the Plains of Abraham and make it two outta three..
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
How did you do that? Student loans?
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
I did, but I socialized with mostly French speaking colleagues and friends and never had one issue whatsoever, much less feel isolated. In fact, quite the opposite. The nightlife in Montreal was spectacular.
Carolen Christie
Reply to Jack Anderson
So you are fluent in French.
Jack Anderson
Reply to Bob Seusers
Hey look, bobbi is here! Nice of you to join us, bobbi. Did you just wake up?
Bob Seusers
Reply to Carolen Christie
He's also fluent in Chinese..
Jack Anderson
Reply to Carolen Christie
My knowledge of the French language is passable, at best, but that never stopped me from enjoying Montreal. Quite the opposite.
Mike Davidson
Reply to Carolen Christie
That's nice, but would you have been willing to pay the full cost of that niceity?
Carolen Christie
Reply to Mike Davidson
?
Carolen Christie
Reply to Mike Davidson
What’s nice? What nicety?
Carolen Christie
Reply to Mike Davidson
Oh you mean university? I wasn’t further ahead job wise by studying out of province but the education was good in Quebec.
David Amos
Reply to Carolen Christie
The education was good in Quebec???
Carolen Christie
Reply to David Amos
Yes, but in hindsight I would likely study where I wanted to spend my career working.
Carolen Christie
Reply to Carolen Christie
Or get fluency in French while studying in both written and spoken French.
Carolen Christie
Reply to David Amos
I would have been better off if I double majored, one in French.
David Amos
Reply to Carolen Christie
In the sixties I studied Latin and French in New Brunswick which paid some dividends
Carolen Christie
Reply to David Amos
Did you work in NB?
David Amos
Pending approval
Reply to Carolen Christie
Hell Yes I owned a business
Mike Davidson
Reply to Carolen Christie
The nicety of having mail delivered to your house every day.
Carolen Christie
Reply to Mike Davidson
Yes but not while unemployed because I wasn’t fluent in French.
David Amos
Reply to Carolen Christie
Yup
I just signed up for paper bills to be sent by mail. If they go on strike, I’ll just call and find out what my bill is. Ahhh, what a reeeeeelief. I can relax.
Postal Workers went on strike last year and Canada Post told them that there was no money... and they asked for huge pay raises anyways.
Now that they are closing up offices and lowering the workforce Unions are going on strike again because they don't like it...
Who is the real problem... some people seem to think Canada Post should be to blame when in reality they told the Union exactly the truth.
Peter Hill
Reply to Harry Gothem
Why didn’t Canada post management have the money?
Reply to Peter Hill
Because they are not the Canadian Mint.
Reply to Peter Hill
Revenue wasn't there
.less and less people are using the Post Office.
David Amos
Reply to Peter Hill
Good question
Mike Davidson
Reply to Harry Gothem
I worked in the private sector for 40 years for a large global professional services company. It was a competitive business, but they paid fairly and competitively for the industry they were in. When times were tough, cutbacks and clawbacks were required to stay in business. People understood, and didn't complain - they were thankful to have a job. Things they had to do:
- Shift from 37.5 hour work weeks to 40 hour.
- Elimination of pension plan, shift to employer-matched employee contributions to their own pension (with limitations).
- At one time, anyone making over $60K had their salary rolled back by 15%.
- When the company wasn't making money, there were no annual increases and no bonuses paid out.
- And, of course, there were workforce reductions.
In a perfect world, we all would have secure jobs with great pay and benefits. That's not the world we live in, public sector workers need to realize that.
Pending approval
Reply to Bob Seusers
I could send parcels but with no strike warning who will risk it and have the parcel sitting at the post office until the strike is over.
It has to be reliable in order to flourish.
Reply to David Amos
Uhhhh, simple answer. The revenue isn't there. People are using the postal service less and less.
Pending approval
Speak for yourself I rely on it for litigation against Carney et al and my parliamentary foes use it for free to send their propaganda
Reply to Harry Gothem
Because they mismanaged it, not the workers.
Reply to Peter Hill
Yeah Management shouldn't have given striking workers a 15% raise.
Reply to Peter Hill
Classic corporate mismanagement imho ;-)
The union blinked.
Again.
Reply to Chris Van Ihinger
One More Thing!
We strongly urge CUPW and CUPE to start looking for new opportunities in contemporary industries to support its members as postal delivery follows the cobbler, the horseshoe smith and the TV repair technician into relics of a past that is fondly remembered but no longer needed.
Reply to Chris Van Ihinger
Yet there is more home delivery now than ever before.
Bob Seusers
Reply to Peter Hill
No there isn't.
Reply to Peter Hill
Encouraging.
And yet fewer and fewer letters arrive in my mailbox.
Peter Hill
Reply to Chris Van Ihinger
Letters aren’t the only things delivered.
Reply to Chris Van Ihinger
I disagree I think it was a smart move
Reply to Peter Hill
There is more home delivery in packages, not so for letters. The drop in letter mail is in the billions of items. Every household used to get at least three utility bills plus banking statements and credit cards, along with investments and personal mail. That precipitous drop has not been made up by the Amazon packages now delivered.
Reply to Peter Hill
The bulk mail flyers are an additional source of revenue, but they are nowhere near lucrative as the dollar plus it cost to mail a personal letter
Peter Hill
Reply to Edward Hill
CP delivers parcels too and for a lot less than the private sector.
Bob Seusers
The posties are on strike?
Who knew..
David Amos
Reply to Bob Seusers
I do
One of the restricting issues is "the charter" which specifies the level of service to be provided by CP. CP management has had to work within this charter, although I think there's things they could have done to improve efficiency. What needs to happen first is the federal government clearly stating the new delivery expectations. Carney & Co. have started the process, but I think they are being too mild and too slow. We need bold measures. As much as most of us dislike the how things are being done in the US these days, we are seeing some results from strong mandates and measures. I think it's possible to make significant changes, but without the rhetoric and foul behaviour that we're seeing from DJT.
Peter Hill
Reply to Mike Davidson
The US has postal delivery six days a week and loses billions every year. They treat it as a government service.
Reply to Mike Davidson
The USPS is constitutionally protected because the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power "To establish Post Offices and post Roads". This makes it a constitutionally mandated government service, unlike a private business. The Founding Fathers included it in the Constitution to ensure a unified and efficient mail system for the new nation, as individual states could not effectively manage a national service on their own.
Reply to Peter Hill
Advocating for failures are we now?
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
And the right to bear arms..
Doesn't mean the founding fathers didn't make mistakes.
Reply to Peter Hill
So let's not be like the US then and stop the loss of $$ here, seems pretty simple.
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
We can't govern and operate by things that were set up decades and centuries ago. There are so many ways that we're evolving as society, government services needs to evolve and get with the times as well.
the decisions that have brought Canada Post to the brink of bankruptcy
have not been made in the union halls, but in the boardroom at 2701 Riverside Drive
(CP hq).
Harry Gothem
Reply to james stewart
The workers knew they were losing billions and yet still striked for big pay raises. So it's a little bit of the Union's fault as well.
Postal offices is the second largest expense and they can't just fire staff without closing up offices.
Reply to Harry Gothem
Management lost billions, not workers.
Reply to Peter Hill
Workers asked for huge pay raises when they knew they were losing billions... Not managers.
Reply to Harry Gothem
You think asking for a raise is the problem with CP? If they don’t take a raise there will be zero problems?
Reply to Peter Hill
They asked for a raise knowing that there was a huge problem... They didn't try to find a solution.
Reply to Harry Gothem
You mean there’s a management problem? What does that have to do with workers?
Reply to Peter Hill
There's a UNION problem... they just got a raise less than a year ago and they keep going on strike. Like you said in another post... you can't make money without workers.
Reply to Peter Hill
Workers and the Post Office.. in the same sentence?
Reply to Harry Gothem
The union caused billions in debt? When?
Reply to Peter Hill
When you ask for huge pay raises when you know the business is on pins and needles yes... Unions caused it.
Peter Hill
Reply to Harry Gothem
No, the union didn’t cause the management problem.
Reply to james stewart
Methinks many would agree that the decisions which brought Canada Post to the brink of bankruptcy were made in secret within the PCO N'esy Pas?
Reply to Peter Hill
Another example of corporate mismanagement ;-)
Do a better job, quicker, and stop complaining. You have a well paying job while many others work many jobs to make ends meet. The constant striking and holding of the public's correspondence hostage has to stop.
Peter Hill
Reply to Chris Bowley
You’re the only one complaining.
your parallel universe is diverging radically.
Reply to Chris Bowley
You’re complaining about people exercising their rights. Not me.
There's usually a realization that sensible people arrive upon when the wall which is in front of one becomes stained with one's own life fluid, Peter.
Reply to Peter Hill
Are you sure about that?
* It seems that Canada Post thinks it has earned the right to hold Canadians as hostages over yet another Crown Corporation wage hike. Mike Davidson has it right; CDA Post employees have far more paid time off and other privileges than anyone could even dream of. They have a stunning sense of self-entitlement for a company that's been losing millions of dollars a day for years. Negotiate hard on behalf of Canadians; don't back down. If Canadians are satisfied, if ever, see if Purolator or Amazon will buy for $1 and restructure it. As a senior in my 70s, I've seen CDA Post shaft us for decades.
* Post your frustration to your MP and hold them accountable for this fiasco. My MP in Ottawa has said nothing, so I let them know that.
Reply to John Jury
Actually CP owns Purolator Canada.
Reply to John Jury
I'll let my MP know that I want a postal bank, just as Canadian postal workers have suggested a decade ago.
Reply to John Jury
You mean the people who ran CP into the ground should not be held responsible?
Reply to John Jury
"Post your frustration to your MP and hold them accountable for this fiasco."
Good Luck with that
Reply to John Jury
I couldn't agree more. I don't expect my MP to participate
Reply to Anne Wallenberg
Why are stamps so cheap?
Reply to Carolen Christie
When is the last time you ever bought a stamp???
Reply to Harry Gothem
If I send a card to Toronto it costs $1.25. I couldn't drive there for that. It is cheap.
Reply to Harry Gothem
How much is a stamp, I buy them by the book with tax.
Reply to Carolen Christie
Surely you jest
What I don't understand is how the union can be so tone-deaf, not to see and hear that they have almost zero support for their cause from the general public.
Peter Hill
Reply to Mike Davidson
Reply to Mike Davidson
Are you sure about that?
Jim Gallant
Hired by Canada Post 35 years ago, Jim has held positions with the Atlantic Regional office for the past 15 years, 13 as Regional Grievance Officer. With more than a dozen rounds of private sector negotiations under his belt, Jim brings a solid background in bargaining and is comfortable with the process: from demands to final collective agreement. As well as having a thorough knowledge of the collective agreement, Jim is constantly preparing for and arguing cases at formal and regular arbitration for all groups and classifications in the Urban agreement, along with other agreements. Jim’s knowledge of the collective agreement, the problems we are having currently with employer violations, long-suffering problems and the detail needed to be successful at arbitration will be helpful.
Jim has 20 years on the work floor in Halifax, working in all job classifications in both Groups 1 and 2. Having gone to college for a trade, Jim also has a keen interest in Groups 3 and 4 and has represented and arbitrated for members in those groups for many years. Jim’s decades of knowledge and experience will be an asset at the bargaining table.
FactsCan plans to test political claims during election
Founders of new group want to 'lay out the truth, as truly as possible, with no BS or alternative agenda'
According to co-founder Dana Wagner, who also works as a researcher at Ryerson University in Toronto, the team behind the site wants to help voters "separate out the truth from spin, distortion, omission, error and lies."
"Our goal is to enable Canadians to critically engage in political-speak, and to encourage politicians to be honest and accurate with their words," she told CBC News via email.
Site aims to raise awareness of 'deception in politics'
Wagner says a dedicated, stand-alone fact-check site offers some advantages over traditional media coverage.
"Since we're off the 24/7 cycle, and not simultaneously covering news, there's a depth of analysis we can bring that might not be found on other media outlets," she told CBC News.
The team will also "be looking beyond the major candidates' ridings to see what's happening in off-the-radar ridings and on social media, so there's an added breadth of coverage."
She hopes the presence of a new player on the field could also force media outlets to "up their game" by challenging them to produce their own high-quality fact checks.
Finally, she says, the very existence of the site could bring about a "new level of awareness on deception in politics."
They'll also be providing tips to readers on how to spot fibs on the ground, which, she says, will "heighten that awareness."
Other team members include Democracy Watch co-ordinator and federal civil servant Tyler Sommers and Jacob Schroeder, who works for a Vancouver-based social housing group and has a background in cognitive systems and analytics.
In a video promoting the site, Schroeder explains the origins of the project.
"We realized that we wanted a resource that tracked what politicians are saying, and could sort out whatever facts are in there — a place that wouldn't tell people how to vote, or what to value, but lay out the truth, as truly as possible, with no BS or alternative agenda."
Harper, Mulcair already fact-checked — and found wanting
The site, which went live last week, has already posted its verdict on statements by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Prime Minister Stephen Harper — neither of whom, it's worth noting, garnered passing grades on the FactsCan meter.
Mulcair's claim that the Islamic State (ISIS) is "literally the same as the insurgent group that U.S. forces have been battling for over a decade" is deemed "misleading."
Meanwhile Harper's suggestion that "nobody in the world is regulating their oil and gas sector" emissions is simply "false."
According to the methodology posted to the site, scores range from "true" for "verifiably accurate" statements to "farcical" for a claim that is not simply "verifiably inaccurate," but " an egregious lapse of logic, almost indifferent to believability."
The group has launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise sufficient startup funds to deliver fact checks throughout the upcoming federal election, which it estimates will cost $5,000.
Donor levels range from "The Minimalist," which requires a $10 donation, to a "Guardian of Truth," who, for a one-time gift of $1,000, can look forward to postcards, shout-outs on the site and a dinner with one of the founders in Vancouver, Toronto or Ottawa.
"The dinner is optional," the campaign website notes, "but we promise, we're fun company."
FactsCan has also issued an open call for volunteers willing to share their expertise, whether in "digging up the details" to "spotting logical errors" to managing online communities.
"Your contributions will get FactsCan off the ground, helping improve the quality of political discussions in our country," the pitch points out.
"There's a lot of good stuff to argue about without having to argue about facts."
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