The Managements Atrocities Continue
April 02, 2010 
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2nd VP Scarborough Local.

Today UPCE was notified that the Contact Center will be closing within 5 years. As of Jan. 20, 2011 all Contact Center terms will be released and the Ottawa Contact Center and the Edmonton Contact Center will be closed. All indeterminate positions would be declared surplus to requirements and covered by the Article 28 of the Collective Agreement. Within 5 years the Winnipeg, Fredericton and Antigonish Contact Center's are due to be closed.

 Canada Post has decided to contract out the Call Center Services. Presentations were given to members in the effected areas from Canada Post Management and the reason given was that they believe that the Contact Centre's are not competitive compared to industry. Canada Post is proposing to initially outsource approximately 55% of its Customer Relationship Network contact centre work.
 
 There is a conference call scheduled with the PSAC and the Executive of UPCE tomorrow as well as a meeting with Appendix M and Canada Post on April 16th.
 
 I will keep you posted as information becomes available.
 
 In Solidarity,

 Kelly Steele
 Ontario Regional Vice President
 Union of Postal Communications Employees
 Tel: 519-476-9977

Hey Everyone,
 
I am sending you a letter that well be going out tomorrow  by bullentin (sent out by the union). I am hoping that you could help me by getting this letter out to as many postal workers as you know by e-mail. There is going to be a demonstration in front of Canada Post April 6th - 11:30am - 1pm. I know you all work, but if anyone could make it and if you could spread the word along with my letter I would greatly appreciate it. I am also asking people to write their MP's with my letter attached asking them how this can be happening in our province of Nova Scotia , in our country in 2010. Thank-you

The following is my letter to all Postal Workers:
 
 
Dear Brother and Sisters,
 
     I have decided to write a personal letter to thank each and every one of you for your support which has made such a profound effect on my life and my family's life. Today is March 25th, 2010 - almost 10 days since I have been sent home by Canada Post. My emotions have run everywhere for 10 days - anger, sadness, helplessness and embarrassment. Also emerging are strong feelings of pride, thankfulness and hope which are due to all of you - my brother and sister postal workers. Your support and concern for myself and my family have given me the strength to fight and for the first time I have had a taste of how powerful we are when we stand together against an injustice. THANK-YOU for standing up for not only me, but for anyone who finds themselves discriminated against by Canada Post.
      As much as I regret disclosing to the employer that I have Attention Deficit Disorder and a Language Learning Disability, I am not embarrassed that I am a person with a disability. It is merely a challenge in my life that I face and find ways to overcome.  This is the year 2010 and I find myself in this situation with Canada Post who should be totally embarrassed to treat people with disabilities in this manner, especially when this employer was voted one of the top 100 employers of this past year. (- an honor obviously not bestowed upon them for hiring people with disabilities or for attention to human rights. )
      I have done the job of letter carrier for 3 years, with NO complaints from the employer. I feel this is a pretty good assessment of a job well done. So I want to explain why I disclosed my disability: I was feeling the pressure last year during Canada Post's push to eliminate any and all overtime at all costs. I felt that if I explained that the part of my job where I could be incurring overtime ( sorting) MAY have something to do with my disability - and if I suggested some simple things that could help me in that area, then I could concentrate on doing my job instead of worrying about losing it. Canada Post's response was to have me assessed by Manulife.
     I can tell you that my disability does not affect the quality of work I do as a letter carrier, as I do the job properly. I did say that my disability MAY affect my sort time. I'm not even sure how much Overtime is due to my disability - if any. I do know that being a casual relief carrier that bounces from walk to walk affects overtime, and also the fact that my overtime varies with the walk I'm on and unforseen circumstances on the street which can increase overtime - but this is true for all letter carriers.  Neither Canada Post nor Manulife have determined what effect my disability has on my overtime - if any.  If you are wondering why I am sharing such personal information, I want you all to know who you are standing behind and why. I wouldn't ask for your support if I couldn't do my job and do it well.
     This type of discrimination is not new to me. I was told I wouldn't get into University by a High School guidance counselor.  Not only did I get into University but graduated with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation with HONORS, and graduated 'All Canadian Academic' (as I played, as Captain, on the Dalhousie  Womens Hockey team .The only explanation I was given when sent home is that I have NOT been sent home based on my job performance, but based on Manulife's letter that states that due to my disability I cannot be a letter carrier anymore. Canada Post says that their hands are tied. This recommendation came almost 1 year after I disclosed my disability.
     Our union is fighting for me, my shop Steward, other Union Reps, and friends have backed me from the beginning. The Union has been in constant contact with me through this difficult time. Brother and Sisters, your continuing support is my best chance, and I promise you that this will NEVER be forgotten. Jason and I will stand shoulder to shoulder with each and every one of you anytime you need. I am in your debt.
 
Thank-you
Nadine Kays ( Hopkins )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Windsor man who harrassed his mailman gets fine, probation


By Sarah Sacheli, The Windsor StarMarch 25, 2010true


Kenneth Quaggiotto was fined $500 Thursday and placed on probation for two years for harassing his mailman.

Kenneth Quaggiotto was fined $500 Thursday and placed on probation for two years for harassing his mailman.
Photograph by: File photo, The Windsor Star

WINDSOR, Ont. -- A Hildegarde Street resident was fined $500 Thursday and placed on probation for two years for harassing his mailman.

Kenneth Quaggiotto, 45, followed his mailman with a camera and posted mocking videos of him on YouTube, drew swastikas on his photo and pasted it to a neighbourhood mailbox and verbally confronted him on at least two occasions between September 2008 and January 2009. Earlier this month, he was convicted of criminal harassment.

It all began as a dispute over a dog running free in the neighbourhood. Quaggiotto, an unemployed autoworker, became obsessed with proving the dog was not his. In his quest for justice, he got his mail cut off for life, and a criminal record.

Quaggiotto's lawyer, Brian Dube, told the court his client's perceived mistreatment by Canada Post "brought out the extreme part of his personality." He screamed and cursed into the phone in messages he left for Canada Post. He identified mailman George Goebel as a "dumb-dumb" on the Internet. He screamed at Goebel in the street.

Ontario court Justice Mitch Hoffman rejected Dube's suggestion that Quaggiotto be handed a conditional discharge in which he would be left with no criminal record if he abided by court-imposed restrictions. Hoffman said such a lenient sentence would have no effect on Quaggiotto "the next time he feels he is mistreated by some organization."

Hoffman said a stinging fine will have more effect. Hoffman ordered Quaggiotto to stay at least 10 metres from Goebel, unless Quaggiotto's on his own property when Goebel goes by. Quaggiotto can't publish or broadcast anything about Goebel, including YouTube videos or public posters.

He can't own or possess any firearms or other weapons for 10 years.

Hoffman chided Quaggiotto, saying he should have controlled his behaviour and never seen the inside of a courtroom.

"You have the right to express your opinion ... but for you to let this situation get to this point where you're before the criminal courts?"

"You should not force us to have to deal with your behaviour."

The trial took three days, with several police officers and a bylaw enforcement officer spending an entire day or two waiting to testify. Including the days of judgment and sentencing, Goebel came to court, accompanied by at least two Canada Post employees on company time, for a total of five days.

© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star

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