Hundreds of people braved the frigid -20 degree weather on Saturday to protest the elimination of door-to-door delivery at the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg. The Canada Post rally was one of many held across the country over the weekend.
PSAC National President Robyn Benson attended the Winnipeg rally to bring greetings on behalf of more than 180,000 PSAC members, including thousands of Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE) members at Canada Post who are employed mainly in an administrative, clerical, technical and/or professional capacity.
“PSAC is going to be standing with you every inch of the way,” Benson announced. “We will work with you to mobilize our communities. We will fight [Canada Post CEO] Deepak Chopra and Canada Post. We will fight Stephen Harper. And we will take back our country, our Canada, for the next generation.”
Benson received loud cheers and applause for her warning to Stephen Harper regarding the 2015 federal election.
“PSAC members have also suffered at the hands of Stephen Harper and when 2015 comes, I can tell you, he’s going to suffer at the ballot box!”
Last month, Canada Post announced it would be phasing out door-to-door service in favour of community mailboxes. It also aims to cut 6,000 to 8,000 jobs over the next 10 years.
Other rally speakers included: George Floresco, CUPW 3rd National Vice-President; Barbara Byers, CLC Executive Vice-President; Paul Moist, CUPE National President; Pat Martin, MP for Winnipeg Centre and Official Opposition Critic for Public Works and Government Services; Sharon Blady, Manitoba MLA for Kirkfield Park and Minister of Healthy Living and Seniors; Jesse Turner, Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities Chairperson; and Harry Paine, Manitoba Society of Seniors President. Darren Steinhoff, CUPW Winnipeg Health & Safety Officer, emceed the event.
Pictured above, PSAC National President Robyn Benson speaks at the rally. Pictured below, PSAC Prairies Regional Executive-Vice-President Marianne Hladun attends the rally in solidarity.
