Friends and Family Support CUPW Whitehorse Postal Workers
Whitehorse — On Friday, Dec 6th, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm everyone is invited to a solidarity picket line at the Canada Post plant at the top of Two Mile Hill in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Roast Marshmallow over an open fire! Make Smores for you and someone you love! Bring Your Letter for Santa! All letters get a candy cane from the generous elves who deliver the letters to the big guy. Everyone is welcome to show your support and encourage the Postal Workers at the end of the 3rd week on Strike.
There will be a Rally at 4:30 pm, with speeches from allies, supporters, and CUPW workers. The media is invited to this event. Park at Takhini Arena and use the crosswalk to join the postal workers.
Friday, December 6th, marks the start of week 4 for these workers on strike. “It’s important to remember that instead of bargaining fairly, Canada Post Corporation forced postal workers off the job and into a strike when Canada Post Corporation announced that as of 8:00 am on Friday, November 15, Canada Post will not be following the existing collective agreement.” Says Teresa Acheson, President of the Yukon Federation of Labour.
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 852 President Mac Clohan says, “Imagine if you were told that full-time stable employment was being replaced with fluctuating shifts doing as little as 8 hours a week with no benefits. We are fighting for good, stable jobs that will allow workers to live good middle-class lives, serve our community and retire with dignity. Changes at Canada Post must not come at the expense of workers, nor the communities we serve.”
Picket lines represent more than a workplace dispute—they are a stand against injustice that benefits all workers. Many of the rights enjoyed today, such as fair wages and safe workplaces, were won through past struggles where solidarity on picket lines was crucial. By honouring picket lines and work stoppages, we prevent employers from bypassing the strike’s impact, increasing pressure to negotiate fairly and strengthening the strike’s effectiveness.
Supporting picket lines and rejecting struck work protect both the immediate interests of striking workers and the broader rights of all workers. These actions ensure that sacrifices made during a strike lead to meaningful change, reinforcing the collective power and shared values of the labour movement.
The labour movement has long fought for anti-scab legislation, recognizing its crucial role in protecting workers and their right to strike. The passing of Bill C-58 earlier this year is not just a legislative win but a monumental victory for workers across the country.
Starting June 20, 2025, federally regulated employers, including Canada Post, will be restricted from using replacement workers during strikes or lock-outs.
Those who violate the new law will face fines of up to $100,000 a day.
When you honour a picket line, you are taking a stand for the collective good, to not allow an employer or corporation to take advantage of their many workers – in this case 55,000 Postal workers across Canada fighting for a contract.
We encourage the public to TAKE ACTION:
- Join CUPW postal workers in Whitehorse on Friday, Dec 6, 4-6 pm for a Solidarity Picket, marshmallow roast, smores, and walk the picket line to show support.
- Tell Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger that you support CUPW. Go to CUPW.ca and sign the petition to let Canada Post know any changes at Canada Post must not come at the expense of workers, nor the communities which it serves.
- Show your support by printing or posting your favourite image or poster – Support Postal Workers! Support CUPW. Love Posties. And other messages.
- Learn about their Delivering Community Power campaign. Postal workers have a plan to deliver vital services to every corner of the country. Elder check-ins, low-fee postal banking, high-speed internet, and EV Charging stations. Sign a petition to strengthen the call for any of these services you want for your neighbourhood.
In a country that spans a continent, the one thing every community deserves wherever you go is a Canada Post office and postal services that serve all of us, no matter where we live.
So now is the time to pull out all the stops to tell Canada Post to MAKE A DEAL. Postal Workers deserve a contract. The public can help pressure the employer so postal workers can get back to doing what they love most, delivering your mail and parcels.
