Mr. Speaker, today a delegation from the national congress of the postal workers union , members of the rural mail couriers organization and other related groups assembled on parliament Hill to speak out against the way rural route mail couriers are treated.
Although these men and women do a job similar to that of letter carriers, they are far from benefiting from the same recognition. They have no job security and are continually forced to bid lower and lower.
In addition to having to use their own vehicles and bear any related expenses, rural mail couriers earn less than minimum wage and have no paid annual leave, or even sick leave. This is because the Canada Post Act denies them the right to collective bargaining. This act must therefore be changed.
The Bloc Quebecois supports the actions of the rural mail carriers and the demands they are making, and faults the federal government for its inertia in this matter.