Tag Archives: mail

No more mail service in Canada, no more airline service either? Canadian government getting Police State on Worker’s Rights-Oh Canada you suck!

“They did it with no warning. They trapped the public’s mail. It’s unacceptable.”-Denis Lemelin, Canadian Union of Postal Workers

Canada Post shut down all urban mail service today, June 15, after more than a week of strikes by 15,000 postal workers.  Ironically Canada Post officials say the shut down is meant to keep them from losing more money: “The price tag was climbing. It was reaching $100 million. We need to do something to jump start the negotiations.”-Anick Losier, Canada Post spokeswoman

If you’re losing money because workers aren’t at work, how do you make that better by shutting down altogether?  On top of that Union officials say they reached an agreement with Canada Post bosses and were heading back to work, when they were ‘locked out’: “All postal workers were ready to distribute mail across the country.”-Denis Lemelin, Canadian Union of Postal Workers

So from 15,000 striking postal workers to now 48,000 unemployed postal workers because of Canada Post’s lock out.

Add to the postal workers strike the strike by employees of Air Canada.  Today, 3,800 workers walked off the job.  Many travelers are being forced to use other air lines.

What’s the main motivation behind the two huge strikes in Canada?   Retirement benefits: “We’re Canadians. We deserve our pensions. We’ve worked hard for them.”-Loretta Pasqualini, 30 year employee with Air Canada

Air Canada and Canada Post wants to drastically slash worker’s retirement benefits, as well as other things like pay.  Canada Post says they have to cut costs because they’ve been losing money.  They blame the internet (very similar to what’s going on with the U.S. Postal Service).

Air Canada strikers started to leave their picket lines when security/police started taking pictures of them.  Also, the Canadian government is meeting today to come up with a plan that will force workers back to work, and end collective bargaining!

 

Beware Latest Scams Cops asking for Bail Money & Postal Delivery Notices

In East Idaho there are a couple of scams going around.  The first involves people calling you up and acting like cops trying to get bail money.  They tell you they’ve arrested one of your friends, or in the case of a local business, one of your employees, and they need bail money.  Sounds unbelievable, because bail is normally handled through the courts, but, amazingly several people, and a local Pocatello restaurant (Butterburr’s) have fallen for the scam.  One guy was even told he would end up getting his money back.  Do not wire money to anyone you do not know, even if they claim to be a police officer!

The warning for the other scam is coming from the United States Postal Service (USPS).  People are being sent email notices about a package they need to pick up.

WEST WINDSOR, NJ - AUGUST 21:  Trucks are seen parked at a U.S. Postal facility August 21, 2002 in West Windsor, New Jersey.  Samples will be collected to see if the anthrax found in a Princeton mailbox last week was spread through the network that transfers mail from Princeton.  (Photo by Don Murray/Getty Images)

On Friday, October 22, I was in one of the Pocatello post offices and the lady in front of me asked for a package that she was told she had to pick up.  The Postal Clerk looked for some time, didn’t find anything, then asked for the pick up slip the Postal Carrier normally leaves.  The lady said she had gotten an email.  As far as I know the USPS does not send out email, or phone, notices that a package needs to be picked up.  It’s a good thing the lady didn’t click on the email link, ’cause that’s when they get you.  The USPS website has a warning about the scam.