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March 6, 2003

(Letter sent to The Oran)

Dear Editor:

I would like to comment on the January 22nd article, "CUPW to go to bat for rural postal carriers."

As stated in the article, section 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act deems that mail contractors are neither employees nor dependent contractors and that Part 1 of the Canada Labour Code, which provides for collective bargaining, does not apply to them. As a result, The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has no legal right to bargain on behalf of rural route contractors.

Furthermore, the Federal Court of Canada found that Section 13(5) of the CPC Act does not violate the guarantee of the equality rights contained in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Rural contractors are independent business people free to pursue other sources of income outside of their contract with Canada Post, provided there is no conflict with our services, a distinction you would expect in any type of contract. One thing that is omitted from the article is that rural route contractors can claim their expenses as a cost of doing business, like other independent business people, when they file their income tax returns.

Canada Post is implementing several programs to further enhance the satisfaction of our contractors and is committed to ensuring that rural route contractors are treated fairly, equitably and professionally and that they continue to play a major role in providing an affordable postal service of the highest quality across Canada.

Sincerely,

John Caines
Manager, National Media Relations
Ottawa (613) 734-7675