Postal Workers Caravan to Miss Prince George?
Prince George, B.C.- The Canadian Union of Postal Workers cross country caravan aimed at getting Canadians to back the fight against cuts to Canada Post, has no current plan to make a stop in Prince George, but that could change.
The caravan has made a swing through the lower mainland and Okanagan, but closest the caravan plans to be to Prince George is Kamloops on August 26th.
Skipping Prince George may well be a result of the election. Once the election had been called, CUP-W would be held to third party advertising spending limits. “We could get to more places if we weren’t restricted by the new spending rules” says CUP-W National President Michael Palacek. The caravan project, which started in Newfoundland in mid July, is expected to eat up most of the dollars the union can spend on what has been a coast to coast message to Stephen Harper and the Conservative party to stop the planned cuts to Canada Post. “We do have to follow the new election spending rules and we’re complying with the legislation, but clearly it’s restricted us in a lot of ways” says Palacek.
Several communities north of Kamloops have already been served notice that door to door mail delivery will be stopped, or that rural area post offices will see hours changed and reduced. Prince George City Council has unanimously supported the union’s fight to retain door to door delivery, and the Regional District has sent a letter to Canada Post calling for a reconsideration of proposed changes to the rural post office hours.
In Prince George, support for the continuation of door to door delivery can be seen in the ‘Save door to door’ signs that have popped up on lawns throughout the community.
Palacek says the Caravan will have visited about 80 communities across the country once the trip is done and the support so far has been encouraging “It’s been outstanding public support, hundreds of people turning out at each location .”
Prince George CUP-W Local 812 President Tami Brushey says mail carriers provide more than just mail delivery service “They are the eyes and ears in a neighbourhood”. She says there have been a number of instances where letter carriers were the ones to call emergency services when they spot smoke coming from a home, or hear the security alarm going off at a residence.
She says there have been plenty of complaints about the placement of the community mail boxes in other communities, one placed in a school zone, another in a heavy traffic flow area. “There are people who don’t want the community mail boxes next to their property because they don’t want to put up with the litter, or the graffiti or people using their driveways to turn around” .Then there’s the challenge for some seniors, who may not have easy access to the community box in their neighbourhood, especially in the winter.
But there are many Canadians who have been living with community mailboxes for some time who have no issues with the system. Brushey encourages those people to “look outside your own experience, talk to others about how the move to community mail boxes will affect them”.
CUP-W maintains Canada Post is profitable and the cuts to service are not necessary.
Those who want to show support for the continuation of door to door service can call the Prince George CUP-W office to arrange to have a sign (250-564-6544). Brushey says while callers will be asked to leave a message, messages are checked, and someone will respond. True to letter carrier style Brushey says “We will deliver the signs, door to door.”
The caravan’s plan is to head straight to Thunder Bay once the Kamloops visit is done. A revised route that would include Prince George would see the caravan head north on 97 then east on 16 all the way to Thunder Bay “Well, now you’ve got me thinking” says Palacek “I will check with our coordinators to see if we can swing in another stop, but we’re on a pretty tight schedule, but I will see what I can do.”
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Comments
This dinosaur is dead. Let it rest in peace.
I ask the question as to how someone in a wheelchair is supposed to get their mail? when you can’t even
drive a car down the road some winter days in Prince George. We choose to purchase a home with door
to door mail service for a reason.
If they only getting hundreds of people per city, they should rethink their spending efforts and go straight to attack ads. I personally prefer the community mail boxes, as it gives the opportunity for some exercise if one chooses.
Have never had door to door but know others that have. Overall I think the community mail boxes are safer and easier. At least I can go away for a couple days and not worry about my mail sitting out. Canada Post has got better at locations. I see smaller banks of mail boxes in more locations so they are closer to your home.
I’m more concerned that it takes a week to get a letter across town
Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2015 @ 6:53 AM by Walter198 with a score of 3
I ask the question as to how someone in a wheelchair is supposed to get their mail? when you can’t even
drive a car down the road some winter days in Prince George. We choose to purchase a home with door
to door mail service for a reason.
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There are people in this country who have never had door to door mail delivery and have managed quite well without it. If receiving your flyers and other assorted junk mail is really that important, there are volunteers galore who would be tickled pink to help you out.
I have had both home delivery and superboxes..
I have never had mail go missing with home delivery, can’t say the same for the superbox. They are very very easy for the thieves to break into, contrary to what Canada Post tells you…
been there, had it happen…..
I would prefer home delivery if I have a choice.
bcracer lost his monthly penthouse magazine deliveries.
We have both door-to-door delivery to our home in the city where we live and a community mailbox to our business, which is outside the city limits. Some mail, trade magazines for instance, is directed to both. The same mail from the same source is always a day ahead in the delivery to the community mailbox. It’s also far more convenient if anything that comes in a small package is received. With the community mailbox such items are locked in a secure compartment, with the key left in your regular mailbox. Home delivery, sometimes they’ll ring the door bell, more often it’s just left on our doorstep. Where we are, the private contractor who delivers to the community mailbox will bring you stamps the next day if you catch him when he’s making a delivery and pay him for them. Now that’s service! Try getting that out of one of Canada Post’s unionised mail carriers.
why the personal attacks PG101..
you don’t have an opinion so you pick someone to slam for what?
personal enjoyment…
please grow up
If you look at the location of some of these super mail boxes its a joke, some are so close to the road the snowplow will easily block them. Asked Canada post about clearing, sanding for some locations and after 2 months they responded, their research is very detailed regarding locations and should not present a problem, never answered the concerns expressed. However if any problems should be identified send a detailed letter with location, problem and if possible picture and they will forward to their team for review, really??. We already pay for the service not for a pack of fat cats earning $480,000 a year to sit on their ass looking at ways to save money, when in fact they are the real problem. Top senior level managers have increased 4times in the passed 5 years, which include CEO’s, VP;s,Vice VP’s, Regional VP’s, District VP’s, Provincial VP”s and on goes the list and guess what 85 % work out of offices in Ont more so Ottawa. So is the problem really door to door service ?
This seems like such a non-issue to me.
For those with mobility issues, I’m sure you still find a way to get to the doctor, or grocery store, etc. Just get your mail on your way home. Also, there are urban areas in College Heights and the Hart which don’t have door-to-door and haven’t for 20-30 years (suburban locations).
I’m sure the boxes can be broken into, but it’s easier to just walk up to a home and walk away while most people are away at work.
The ranking system shows this site is read by many union supporters haha. There really isn’t much of an argument to keep door-to-door, which a lot of the city doesn’t have already. I’m ok with Canada Post not paying someone 60k/year plus benefits to delivery the latest deals from dominos.
Pgjohn, people with mobility issues have to plan their trips to the doctor etc.. Mail is everyday.. It’s a different situation.
Maybe if most of the older ladies that work @ Canada Post were more friendly people would want to use them more.
I hope they are supplying onsite garbage cans for all the junk mail I won’t be taking back to my house to dispose of.
“Maybe if most of the older ladies that work @ Canada Post were more friendly people would want to use them more”
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Maybe if the older ladies that work @ Canada Post didn’t have to deal with so many ignorant stupid people they would be more friendly. :-)
The business communities are very much too quiet on the topic . Will they still get to keep their door2door ?
“Pgjohn, people with mobility issues have to plan their trips to the doctor etc.. Mail is everyday.. It’s a different situation. ”
Is it REALLY an everyday thing? I get door-to-door mail, and at most, I get mail that actually has my name and address on it maybe twice month. That’s being generous. Most bills, etc. are emailed these days. Even if these are mailed, they come once a month.
I agree there are alot of ignorant stupid people to deal with…BUT … nothing makes your day like going to buy a stamp and dealing with someone who can’t even say “Hello” or crack a smile for christ sakes. These people have a choice where they work, but Im guessing that they can’t get a better job somewhere else due to lack of customer service skills.
CUP-W should check the books again, Canada Post was losing money until they started with this process and had quite a few areas already changed from door-to-door to community mailboxes which helps their bottom line. Do we really want to subsidize Canada Post?
US Postal Service is also following in the community mailbox footsteps in an effort to become profitable again.
Australia is struggling with huge losses this year due to its lettermail business, losses are projected to grow to 6 billion in 10 years. They are shaving 2,000 jobs in order to just stay afloat.
mail service pays many good salaries to many good Canadian citizens that keep many families able to enjoy a good life .what is the problem , the government receives revenues from this to keep it viable . Just like the liquor stores. If you are unemployed and looking for work try both.
I also have to say that i find the thumbs up or down score kinda goofy,,,, why ?
Just have to say abolishment of his puts many people on the U I dolls and when that runs out then what ?
Prince George CUP-W Local 812 President Tami Brushey says those who want to show support for the continuation of door to door service can call the Prince George CUP-W office to arrange to have a sign. Brushey says true to letter carrier style, “We will deliver the signs, door to door.”
Gee, how much do you want to bet that CUP-W delivers those signs a whole lot faster than they deliver the mail!!
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