Posted: Tuesday, 28 June 2011

OTTAWA ― With the passage of back-to-work legislation, the federal government and Canada Post are one step closer to dismantling decent wages for young workers and their future retirement security, says Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Georgetti says, “The concessions pushed by Canada Post to introduce lower wage rates for new employees and to roll back future pension benefits found support from the Harper government. They who not only stacked the legislation to favour Canada Post, but went one step further by legislating wage increases that were actually lower than those last tabled by the company.”

Georgetti applauded the Official Opposition New Democrats for their attempt to defeat the legislation. "The Opposition defended working people and free collective bargaining," he says.

"Postal workers bargained in good faith, they didn't shut down postal services - their employer did. It's inexcusable for the government to use legislation to allow the company it owns, Canada Post, to get what it wanted from the beginning, and more. They should have forced their company to get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair settlement," Georgetti adds. "In our experience, a forced settlement will not bode well for harmonious labour relations at Canada Post in the future."

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.2 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada's national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils.

Contact: Dennis Gruending, CLC Communications, Tel: 613-526-7431.
Cell: 613-878-6040. Email: dgruending@clc-ctc.ca