Spotted: Mail delivery resumes and postal workers plan court battle

(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

Postal workers taking fight to court

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers plans to take Canada Post to court to challenge the federal government's back-to-work legislation. The union is also considering lodging a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, claiming newer employees, who will have different pension benefits than older ones, are being discriminated against.

The legislation forces postal workers to accept lesser wages than Canada Post's last offer. It also imposes a form of winner-take-all arbitration for non-wage issues. An arbitrator will choose between both sides' final offers.

Some readers didn't think the union had much of a discrimination case:

• "How is it discrimination to pay new employees less and not have them qualify for the same pension plan?" asked Over the wire. "In almost every company you have to work your way up to a better salary and this job shouldn't be any different."

• "It's my 'human right' to expect the same benefits as proven workers with years on the job, and without any regard to the economy and market share, etc.?" wrote londonresident.

Leonard33 disagreed.

"Yes of course new employees start at the bottom of the pay scale and work their way up. The problem is that the bottom of the pay scale is being lowered so a new employee today gets a worse package than a new employee last week."

Tax Me...I'm Canadian thought that "most postal workers are just glad to be back to work so they can pay the bills and support their families despite what their union leaders say."

Some thought the whole approach to settling these situations has been wrong.

"What should be done is that if the employer and the union can not reach an agreement by 3 months prior to the expiration of the current agreement, it should be mandatory that a third party arbitrator be brought in," smauthe42 suggested. "Why wait until the last minute or even after? If the employer and the union would both act responsibly, the workers would be better off as a whole."

Postal workers put small dent in mail backlog

Postal workers resumed mail delivery Tuesday and some of the mail undelivered during the rotating strikes and lockout at Canada Post reached their destinations. Some carriers complained they were not allowed to work overtime, but Canada Post said it's too early to know if it's necessary.

The Crown corporation is asking Canadians to be patient while it tackles the backlog of mail.
Many users joked about the usefulness of postal service and the junk mail they were bound to start receiving again.

• "I can't wait to get that pile of junk mail," wrote Malcolm X.

• "I'm glad they had their strike in summer. I didn't need the junk mail to heat my house," Mypointis wrote. "If they went out in winter I be real mad and have to writ my MP to tell them to get back to work so that I had heat."

• "So happy," wrote YoungHaligonian. "Got bills in the mail I already paid for!"

And, because of the backlog, some still didn't get their mail.

"Guess what?" asked 1inthebush.  "After all that time, I didn't even get any mail..."

Denizen thought this might set a helpful precedent.

"So, when politicians decide to 'prorogue' parliament, we, the people, should legislate them back to work."

Will and Kate arrive in downtown Ottawa

Canada's future king and his wife, Kate Middleton, have arrived in Canada today. Their first public event was at Canada's National War Memorial in Ottawa where they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Over the next nine days, the newlyweds will be visiting Canadian cities on their first official royal visit.

Some readers weren't thrilled about the visit.

"How much is this pointless visit going to cost us?" asked Cylon Steve.

EdDoerksen couldn't believe the negativity expressed by some readers.

"We all understand that Canada is a sovereign state, but it is also a country packed with history and this is part of it."

pdhlondon called for some peace between the monarchists and the anti-monarchists.

"Regardless of how we may feel as individuals, surely we can... be the warm welcoming hosts we are for all of our guests... What makes us great is our ability and willingness to accept others and treat them all as guests and family. That, is a hallmark of Canada's culture. Let us not spoil this event and soil our reputation for the sake of airing our differences. We are bigger than that, and certainly better too. Happy birthday Canada, and a warm welcome to Prince William and Kate. Enjoy your stay and come again often."