LABOUR

CUPW strike support in Ottawa

by Chantal Sundaram

On May 19, around 50 people gathered at the CUPW office in Ottawa for a solidarity meeting with postal workers to organize strike support.

The meeting was called by local activists from outside the labour movement (Council of Canadians, peace movement), and was attended by representatives of CUPW, PSAC, CUPE, CAW, the Canadian Federation of Students and individual community activists.

Plans for picket support were made, support buttons and signs distributed and letters to the editor were pledged.

It was announced that should the strike last until June 9, striking postal workers would have an opportunity to join a protest of Stephen Harper’s Tory Convention address at the Ottawa Convention Centre. It was acknowledged repeatedly that the postal workers’ fight is the first sally against Harper’s anti-worker agenda—to defend pensions, fight two-tiered workplaces and no future for young workers, and fight privatization.

Mobilizing locally in Ottawa—and in neighbourhoods across the country—to defend our public postal services will be our first chance to start building an alliance between unions and community that can stop the Tory majority from having its way.

On June 3, there were two solidarity rallies in the Ottawa area—one in Ottawa organized by People for Postal Workers, and another in Gatineau organized by the Canadian Federation of Students—that mobilized hundreds to support the postal workers.

For information, photos, videos and resources, visit people4posties.wordpress.com