Hundreds of members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers gathered in Montreal Saturday afternoon, in hopes of restarting negotiations with Canada Post.
The union said Canada Post is not taking key negotiations, such as pensions and pay equity, seriously.
Employees from all over the country, gathered in Parc Saint-Alphonse and took their message straight to the Prime Minister’s Montreal office.
“Let us work, we want to keep working,” said Eric Saumier, Canada Post employee. “We just want a good equal convention and that’s all we’re asking for.”
Among the things they’re asking for is pay equity and decent pension plans.
Although the two sides are negotiating, the union said the progress is very slow.
“All the big issues are there,” said Sylvain Lapointe, the urban unit’s chief negotiator. “Different pay for future employees, pension plan is still an issue, precarious work. The approach for Canada Post is more part-time, more temporary employees. So all those big issues and nothing on new services.”
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More than that, Palesek said the Crown corporation needs to stop cutting.
“Canada post needs to back off their agenda of cuts at a time when they’re doing so well,” he said. “They made a $44 million profit in the first quarter of this year. So they’re on track to do far better than their $100 million profit last year.”
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In early July, Canada Post had withdrawn its lockout notice in order to “allow both parties to focus their efforts on serious negotiations.”
READ MORE: Canada Post drops lockout threat as talks continue with its workers
The two sides have been negotiating over the last seven months, including 60 days of conciliation talks and more than 30 days with federal mediators.
The union says to expect more of these kinds of protests across the country over the next few weeks.