Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), of which I am a proud member, is currently involved in a campaign called “Delivering Community Power.”
The goal of our campaign is to share CUPW’s contract proposals with people across the country, get as many people as possible to sign our petition and deliver that petition to our MPs. If we can get enough people to support our campaign, Ottawa must face the fact that the values that shape CUPWs proposals are in line with the values of all Canadians. After all, the best way to advocate for change is to be united under one voice.
CUPW has five main proposals we are advocating for. Our proposals cover a variety of social issues that vitally need attention. Making the switch to renewable energy, reinstating postal banking, creating a network of support for our seniors and people with disabilities, expanding door-to-door delivery services and building a stronger sense of community are the issues at the heart of our proposals.
Canada Post is the instrument through which we hope to address these pressing issues. If you look at the vast infrastructure Canada Post already has in place, it’s easy to envision its enormous potential. It has more than 64,000 dedicated and hardworking employees from coast to coast, a 13,000-vehicle fleet, which is publicly owned, and 6,300 post offices nationwide at its disposal.
With the help of its employees, Canada Post could expand its door-to-door delivery model and increase foot routes while scaling back driving routes, which would decrease emissions. Our letter carriers could provide a service to check in on seniors.
With the fleet, we propose a switch over to electric vehicles. This would not only further cut back Canada Post’s emissions, but if they contract the building of said vehicles to North American manufacturers, we are creating domestic jobs and contributing to the economy.
With the post offices, we are suggesting retrofitting each one of them to run 100 per cent on solar power as well as installing charging stations that would be available to the public, and reinstating postal banking. Turning our post offices green would create jobs and save the corporation money in the long run.
Postal banking would create affordable and accessible banking for millions of Canadians who have been abandoned by the big banks. The point is, jobs will be created, money will be saved and our planet would begin to repair itself by simply implementing these proposals.
Canada Post should invest in itself and the long-term benefits will be immeasurable. It has the infrastructure and influence to create the change our society so desperately needs. The time is now for the people of Canada to unite under one banner. Let that banner be Canada Post.
Our Powell River area CUPW members will be out in the community over the next few weeks answering questions and collecting signatures. We look forward to seeing you. Thank you for your support.
Noah Bourcier is a Powell River resident and CUPW member.
