05) THE CANADA POST FIGHTBACK

 

People's Voice Editorial

 

            In Conservative cowardly fashion, the news of huge service cuts and layoffs at Canada Post was revealed just before Christmas, the most difficult time of the year to mobilize public anger. Now, resistance is building against the federal government's attack, including rallies, town hall meetings, petition campaigns, letters to the editor and to MPs. But much more is needed, because time is short, and because the stakes are so high.

 

            The Harper government is trying to frame their vicious decision as something "forced" by factors beyond anyone's control. The losses would be staggering, they claim, and "nobody sends mail anymore." And anyway, seniors and people with disabilities have been begging the Prime Minister for a reason to get out and exercise on icy sidewalks in the middle of winter.

 

            This is just noise and lies. The truth is that right-wing governments in most capitalist countries have been deliberately attacking public mail delivery for over a decade, with predictable results: declining service, higher costs, massive layoffs, lower living standards... and higher corporate profits. The real agenda is to eliminate every aspect of public ownership, except of course for the repressive arms of the state (prisons, courts, the armed forces, surveillance agencies) - and even these may end up being sold to private interests.

 

            The assault on the public sector is well underway in Canada. We have to draw a line in the snow, before we lose universal medicare, public pensions, and much, much more. The fight to save Canada Post should become that line. We call on every People's Voice reader to get union locals and community groups to pass resolutions, to circulate CUPW's petitions in neighbourhoods, workplaces and classrooms, to flood MP's offices with calls and letters, all raising the demand: Save Canada Post!

 

(The above article is from the February 1-14, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)