Labour standing up to Harper

CUPW members rally in front of Canada Post office at 1 Dundas St. W., June 22, 2011.

City TV:

Hundreds of union members have gathered for a large rally at Yonge and Dundas Wednesday to protest the federal government’s efforts to legislate postal workers back to work.

The labour rally started at 9 a.m. in front of the legal offices of Canada Post at 1 Dundas Street West and coincides with similar events organized by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) on the East Coast and in Quebec.

Members of several other unions turned up at the event in a show of solidarity. The large turnout prompted police to close a lane on Dundas Street to accommodate the demonstrators.

Back-to-work legislation was tabled in Parliament Monday and the proposed bill sets out wage increases for postal workers that, according to the union, are less than what the Crown corporation included in its final offer.

The government hopes the legislation passes Thursday so mail delivery can resume next week.

Air Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers union managed to come to an agreement after the government tabled back-to-work legislation for the air carrier’s striking counter and sales staff.

The feds stepping in to two labour disputes within a week has raised alarm bells among some union leaders.

Canada Post locked out some 48,000 unionized workers and suspended mail delivery in urban areas on June 15 after 12 days of rotating strikes.

Vancouver today: