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June 1st, 2018

NDP: Victory for CUPW Demonstrates Need for Pay Equity Legislation

OTTAWA – Today, an arbitrator ruled that Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) do equal work to urban letter carriers, and acknowledged the wage gap between the two groups, siding with the methodology presented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW).

“This is a huge victory for CUPW, and women, who make up two-thirds of the RSMC,” said Irene Mathyssen, NDP Critic for Canada Post. “Canada post has deprived rural and suburban mail carriers of equal wages for decades. This pay equity settlement has been a long time coming!”
The decision rendered today comes after months of hearings and a process that began in 2016, and asks that CUPW and Canada Post determine the compensation award before August 31st of this year. “It is time to address this injustice and time for Canada Post to stop exploiting its workers,” added Karine Trudel, NDP Labour Critic.

While this is clearly a victory for CUPW and employees, the NDP is pushing the Liberal government to end this unacceptable inequity once and for all by legislating and funding pay equity. Due to Liberal inaction, women are left without pay equity legislation, and not a single dime was committed to fund the implementation of pay equity in Budget 2018.

“The Liberals promised pay equity over 40 years ago, and 14 years have passed since the 2004 Pay Equity Task report called for pay equity legislation. Women shouldn’t have to fight in court to have equal pay for equal work,” said Sheila Malcolmson, NDP Equality Critic. “The fact that Canada Post workers are still fighting shows how badly we need proactive federal legislation. Women are tired of waiting!”