By CCU President Greg Ball
They did it again, and no one should be surprised.
The federal Liberal government is asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order CUPW (Canadian Union of Postal Workers) workers back on the job and extend the terms of the existing collective agreements until May 2025.
CUPW released a statement, saying: “This order continues a deeply troubling pattern in which successive federal governments have used back-to-work legislation or, in this case, its arbitrary powers to let employers off the hook from bargaining in good faith. What employer would move on anything when they know the government will bail them out? Once again, the government has chosen capital over workers by taking away our leverage to get a good deal.”
They have a very good point. In 2011, a postal worker strike was followed by a two-week lockout imposed by Canada Post management, and to make things worse, the Conservative government then passed back-to-work legislation. Similarly, in 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government passed back-to-work legislation to resolve another Canada Post strike.
Today’s back-to-work order is not only a deeply troubling and regressive move, but also a glaring reminder of how little the powers-that-be understand the value of actual labour. It seems the federal government, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that democracy is nice, but not for workers and labour unions.
CUPW members have been fighting for critical improvements to their working conditions for years. Their concerns are not trivial. They include demands for safer workplaces, better job security, equitable wages, and an end to the reliance on precarious, part-time employment.
Postal workers have raised alarms about high rates of workplace injuries, excessive workloads, and insufficient protections. These issues speak directly to the basic human right to a safe and fair workplace—a right that should never be subject to government interference.
By ordering postal workers to return to their jobs, the government has effectively stripped them of their fundamental right to collective bargaining. This move skews the balance of power in favor of the employer, making it clear that the government values uninterrupted mail delivery over the basic rights and dignity of those who ensure its functionality. It’s a dangerous precedent, one that signals to workers everywhere that their demands for fairness can be swept aside with a stroke of a legislative pen.
If governments can so easily override the right to strike in this instance, what’s to stop them from doing the same to teachers, healthcare workers, or any other group advocating for their rights? Such actions undermine the very foundations of democracy, leaving workers powerless to challenge systemic injustices. It creates a climate of fear and discourages labour movements from organizing, knowing that their efforts could be nullified by legislative force. This is not just an attack on postal workers. It’s an attack on all workers and their ability to stand together in pursuit of better working conditions.
The government’s actions are particularly infuriating given the essential nature of the work performed by postal workers. These individuals are the backbone of communication and commerce in Canada. They ensure that packages, letters, and vital documents reach their destinations. Their labour keeps society running smoothly, yet their contributions are routinely undervalued and taken for granted. Praised as essential workers one moment, they are dismissed as inconveniences the next. The hypocrisy is staggering.
This legislation also comes at a time when labor movements worldwide are gaining momentum. Workers everywhere are calling for fairer treatment, better wages, and safer working conditions. By enacting this back-to-work legislation, the Canadian government – despite the “progressive” cloak it tries to wear – has chosen to stand on the wrong side of history. It has aligned itself not with the progress of labour rights but with the forces that seek to stifle them. This is not the leadership that Canadians deserve.
The backlash to this legislation has been swift and justified. Labour unions, advocacy groups, and concerned citizens across the country have condemned the government’s actions. Their outrage is a testament to the resilience of the progressive union movement and a reminder that the fight for workers’ rights is far from over. This moment must serve as a rallying cry for all Canadians to stand in solidarity with postal workers and demand that the government uphold its responsibility to protect workers, not undermine them.
This isn’t the end of the story. It’s a call to action for all who believe in the importance of labour rights and collective bargaining, and the need for a society that values and protects its workers. The government must be held accountable for its actions, and Canadians must continue to fight for a future where no worker is forced to choose between their rights and their livelihood. Together, we can ensure that this moment becomes a turning point, not a step backward.
Postal workers deserve better. All workers deserve better. And Canadians deserve a government that values and protects the rights of those who keep our country moving.
In Solidarity,
Gregory Ball
President, Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU)
president@ccu-csc.ca
www.ccu-csc.ca
