LS a LA AIL ——— | Women hit hardest in PO privatization Women will be the hardest hit by Tory plans to privatize Canada’s postal service, says a study released by the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. The report, by Joan Hannant, reveals that the privatization of the Crown corpora- tion will have a particular effect on women’s wages, benefits, working conditions and job security, while leading to an overall reduc- tion in the quality and accessibility of postal services. According to the report, over 734 existing urban post offices will be closed as the pri- vatization plans proceed — eliminating both jobs and services. “‘Since 1986 all of the cleaning work in Canada Post facilities has been contracted out to the private sector. For the cleaners — the vast majority of whom are women and immigrants — the consequences of privatization have been devastating. Workers previously protected by a collective agreement and earning between $8 and $12 per hour, suddenly found themselves without a union and earn- ing near minimum wages, with reduced benefits and little job security,” the report says. Rural postal service and franchising are two other areas the report singles out as being particularly harmful to women. While the Canadian Union of Postal Workers won a victory when the Canadian Labour Relations Board ruled that fran- chise owners must honour union contracts, Canada Post has said it will go ahead with its plan — opening 971 full-service private franchises by 1996. Many will be entirely new Outlets where union successor rights may not be applicable. Another problem with the franchising plan, Hannant reveals, is the location of many of the new outlets. Marion Dewar, MP for Hamilton Mountain, complained in the House of Commons recently that Can- ada Post is placing franchises in conven- ience stores and video outlets that sell pornographic tapes and magazines. Many women, Dewar said, do not want to patron- ize stores that sell images degrading to women and disturbing to children. Despite such outcries, Hannant writes, Canada Post has no plan to screen counter locations, and women, as a consequence, will have little choice but to patronize such objectionable premises. The corporate plan to privatize 269 rural post offices could cost the jobs of 8,000 women. According to the report: “Out of a total of 9,312 postmasters and assistants . .. 7,693 or 82 per cent are women ... more often than not, in rural areas, post office closures mean permanent unemployment. “Tt would appear the only winner in Post Office privatization is big business ... the growth of privatization threatens to further undermine the already fragile position of the least advantaged in our society — women, the elderly, the poor and disabled.” The NAC report calls on the federal government to impose an immediate moratorium on foreclosures, amalgama- tion and conversions, and to restore full postal service to communities that have experienced a loss of service. The study also recommends that workers who have lost their jobs due to the privatiza- tion scheme be reinstated with full seniority rights and benefits. CUPE LOCAL 561 COQUITLAM SCHOOL BOARD AND MUNICIPAL LIBRARY EMPLOYEES Sends Season's Greetings to all British Columbia trade unionists SOLIDARITY FOREVER To the friends of labour Local 1928 (Industrial) from the members and staff of Carpenters Shop 6 e Pacific Tribune, December 19, 1988 Single parents and their children gathered for the second monthly candlelight vigil over a $50 cut in GAIN payments to some 20,000 B.C. residents, Dec. 1. The rally at Robson Square in Vancouver, organized by the Child Poverty Action League and End Legislated Poverty, heard demands for the reinstate- ment of the money cut because of a redefinition of single unemployable persons by the Social Services and Housing Ministry. Included at the vigil was Anita Archembault who with her two young daughters is challenging the cut as a violation of ministry regulations in B.C. Supreme Court. TRIBUNE PHOTO — DAN KEETON ————} Season's Greetings Nanaimo, Duncan & District Labour Council On Behalf of our members and staff we extend Season’s Greetings. United Food and Comercial Workers Local 2000, 379-12th St., New Westminster, V3M 4H2 Phone: 525-8811 Local #472 Unit B, 5261 Lane St., Burnaby, V5H 2H4. Phone: 430-3056