Union rep 'appalled' by decision to pass legislation to end postal strike
Postal workers will have to be back on the job as early as Tuesday afternoon
The local head of the union representing striking postal workers is "appalled" by a senate decision to pass a Liberal government legislation to force Canada Post employees back to work.
The move was quickly given royal assent by the governor general, which means postal workers are now mandated to go back to work as early as Tuesday afternoon.
"I'm totally appalled by the decision. I feel that the legislation is unjust," said Karen Finlay-Russell, who heads the London local of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).
She said forcing workers back to work this time of year could result in workplace injuries and health and safety risks.
"This ends up being the most dangerous time because people are working faster, they're working harder and out in the dark."
She said there could be about 300 injuries and half a million dollars worth of unpaid hours to rural and suburban mail carriers during the time before Christmas.
Pressure from members
A group of striking postal workers had occupied a mail sorting facility in London Monday to pressure senators to block back-to-work legislation.
Striking postal workers have occupied this sorting facility on Waterman Ave. They say back to work legislation passed in the House of Commons over the weekend and being considered by the Senate today is unconstitutional. This is union spokesperson Karen Finlay-Russell. <a href="https://t.co/TTya9LrEKa">pic.twitter.com/TTya9LrEKa</a>
—@AndrewLuptonCBCStarting at about 5 a.m., a group of workers carrying signs gathered outside the sorting facility on Waterman Avenue. No trucks were allowed in or out of the facility, located off Wellington Road just south of Commissioners Road.
On Friday, Finlay-Russell joined a group of postal workers who staged a protest at the office of London West Liberal MP Kate Young.
Canada Post officials had warned that a long backlog has built up at many Canadian sorting centres. Finlay-Russell, however, believes that any backlog could be cleared in a few days.
CUPW's 50,000 members are demanding better pay for rural and suburban carriers, more job security and minimum guaranteed hours.
