National Organization of Retired Postal Workers representative and Canadian Coalition for Retirement Security member, Peter Whitaker, at the November 28 event in Toronto.
On November 28, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and the National Organization of Retired Postal Workers (NORPW) hosted a lively demonstration in front of the One King West Hotel in Toronto, where Finance Minister Bill Morneau was speaking to the Institute of Corporate Directors’ annual meeting. Members and staff from the National Association of Federal Retirees, as well as several partner organizations from the Canadian Coalition for Retirement Security, supported the demonstration.
As the annual meeting’s attendees arrived, NORPW President Jean-Claude Parrot called on Prime Minister Trudeau to honour his election promise to pensioners, and to withdraw Bill C-27.
In 2015, Prime Minister Trudeau told the National Association of Federal Retirees that defined benefit pensions “which have already been paid for by employees and pensions, should not be retroactively changed into [target benefit plans]” and that to do this is “unacceptable” and “wrong in principle”.
Other speakers included CUPW Local President Megan Whitfield, CUPW Pension Committee Chairperson John Slattery, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty spokesperson John Clarke, and Ottawa Committee for Pension Security spokesperson Kevin Skerrett.