Union leaders go postal in Ottawa

NEWS RELEASE

CANADIAN UNION OF POSTAL WORKERS

******************** Civil disobedience "Citizens' Search" at Canada Post headquarters in Ottawa

Postal workers, union leaders and supporters seek secret planning documents OTTAWA, June 18 - Starting at noon Monday, teams of postal workers, union leaders, and supporters will try to enter Canada Post Headquarters in Ottawa.

Their goal: search the building for the strategic plans that Canada Post has refused to disclose publicly. The document search action is part of a campaign called "Operation Transparency."

Last March, postal workers gave a two-month ultimatum to Canada Post: release your strategic planning documents or we will search for the documents ourselves.

At least a dozen people, including current and retired leaders of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, have vowed to cross police barricades if necessary in their attempt to search Canada Post headquarters. "What is Canada Post's plan for postal facilities, service, and staffing?" asks Deborah Bourque, national president of CUPW. "What does Canada Post have to hide? Why won't it release its plans for our public postal service? We have a right to know. Mail users, the public, the media, we all have a right to know. If we must be arrested to gain more transparency from Canada Post, then we'll be arrested. Transparency is a cornerstone of democracy", she said.

What: Civil disobedience action (possible arrests) and lively, colourful support demonstration

When: Gathering at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 19. Document search action starts at noon.

Where: Canada Post Place, 2701 Riverside Drive Main action site: South traffic circle) entrance

Who: Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) *********************