Who is Jack and why isn't he getting his cheque?

CUPW Getting Reports of Canada Post Withholding Social Assistance Cheques

OTTAWA, Nov. 23, 2018 /CNW/ - Yesterday, as she introduced the government's back-to-work legislation, Minister Patty Hajdu told the House of Commons that the most vulnerable Canadians relied on Canada Post for cheques and had been negatively affected by the rotating strikes, referencing a man named Jack, who told her he could lose his home if he didn't receive his disability cheque. 

Postal workers in many locations are reporting to CUPW that Canada Post management has directed them not to deliver any letter mail, including pension cheques and social assistance cheques ? a direct violation of an agreement signed by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and Canada Post to deliver these types of cheques during strikes or lockouts.

"Our public post office distributes government cheques that are a fundamental part of the social safety net," says Mike Palecek, CUPW National President. "We do not want the most vulnerable to suffer because of our dispute with Canada Post, which is why we signed an agreement in the first place. If people are not receiving their cheques, it is because Canada Post has chosen not to deliver them."

Over the past five weeks of rotating strikes, Canada Post has manufactured crises, including a massive backlog of mail and now denying the most vulnerable people their government cheques, to push the government to introduce back-to-work legislation. It seems that the government has taken the bait.

"Withholding these cheques is not only deplorable, but is illegal and the Minister representing Canada Post should investigate these claims immediately," adds Palecek. 

SOURCE Canadian Union of Postal Workers