Canada Post is under attack. Political favouritism, privatized delivery, and precarious subcontracting are putting workers and public service at risk. From Intelcom’s exploitative practices to the government’s support of billion-dollar profits, André Frappier discusses how one of Canada’s most essential institutions is being dismantled, and who is benefiting.
They own Purolator:
As the article describes: there are a bunch of gig work companies whose costs are significantly lower than Canada Posts. Straight competition won’t work.
That would require an act of Parliament. Our last dozen or so governments have been pro-business, so that seems unlikely. But we can dream.
You could force exploitive gig work platforms to meet high labour standards, and even require unionisation of the gig workers to provide basic employment protections. That would help in general because even several government departments use contracted workers to gearound basic labour standards right now.
Agreed. Society would benefit from stronger protections for workers. That is (almost) entirely out of the hands of Canada Post, however. That requires legislation from Parliament.
Costs that are lowered by underpaying their workers. Gig work companies typically treat workers as disposable/replacable contractors doing piecework, not salaried employees who deserve proper benefits and some measure of job security.