Evidence of meeting #27 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mail.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:35 p.m.
NDP
Karine Trudel NDP Jonquière, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
When we met with members of the task force yesterday, we discussed the fact that the calculation of the average Canada Post revenues included the year 2011. We know that there was a lockout in 2011 and that pay equity payments were made.
I would like to know whether it seems fair to you to include 2011 in those calculations.
5:35 p.m.
National President, Canadian Union of Postal Workers
I think if you look at our submission around the pattern of deception and misinformation from Canada Post on its finances over the last several years, you'll see that one of the issues is that Canada Post often glazes over substantial one-time issues that caused it to lose money. They also like to run around like Chicken Little, saying the sky is falling. The truth of the matter is that in 2011, they had to settle a major pay equity lawsuit that stretched back almost three decades. They also locked out their workers that year. I'm not surprised they lost money in 2011, although the vast majority of it is from the pay equity case.
5:40 p.m.
National President, Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association
Currently our postmasters union has an outstanding pay equity complaint from 1993. We have just had a decision from the Federal Court that we could move forward and take it to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. I'm hoping that our pay equity complaint will be resolved in the very near future.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Tom Lukiwski
Does anyone have final comments?
Okay. Thank you very much.
Colleagues, on your behalf, I would like to thank all of the witnesses here today.
I'll choose my words carefully here. I appreciate the fact that you've given a different perspective from some of the testimony that we've heard earlier. Coming from a family where one of my brothers-in-law is a letter carrier, I know he would appreciate your comments here as well.
As Mr. Whalen said, we will be going on the road starting next week. We will have consultations in eastern Canada, central Canada, and western Canada.
You mentioned, Mr. Palecek, that many of your representatives will be appearing before us. We look forward to that. We look forward to your submissions as well.
This committee is charged with the responsibility of developing a report and presenting it and tabling it in Parliament before the end of this year. We look forward to further dialogue and further discussions with you as we approach that deadline.
Thank you once again.
We are adjourned.