Jump to content

Posties refuse to deliver "hate mail"


Recommended Posts

Anti-homosexuality brochure held up at Canada Post

 

Canada Post management told the workers on Wednesday that it's not in the business of censorship' date=' and said the letters would be delivered.

 

That stance prompted about 60 postal workers at the Canada Post plant on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver to hold a short protest Thursday morning.

 

"So the employees walked out of this facility because most people are deeply offended by the nature of the literature," said union local president Ken Mooney.[/quote']

Link to post
Share on other sites

I guess this is a bit like pharmacists who refuse to dispense the morning-after pill because of their religious beliefs, but there's another aspect to consider. In this case, the union's constitution states that letter carriers must take steps to "eliminate racism, discrimination and homophobia from our workplaces." I wonder if gay postal workers could put forward a grievance/harassment case if they're forced to deliver this stuff? Interesting dilemma for management.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I forgot to mention that it's a crime to incite hatred against an identifiable group based on colour, race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation, so the posties aren't totally out in left field here.

 

Battle over anti-gay brochures reaches Ottawa

 

Vancouver letter carriers who refused to deliver anti-homosexuality brochures from a religious group got some support in the House of Commons on Friday.

 

... Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies asked the government during question period on Friday why Canada Post is distributing the brochure that she described as "nothing more than hate against gays and lesbians."

 

Davies also noted the brochures were not mail' date=' but advertising.

 

"This hate mail would never meet the standards of any newspaper, TV or radio station in Canada. Yet Canada Post, I would point out, says that it meets their standards. Why do they have such low standards, and why don't they have a policy against this?"

 

... Vancouver police say the B.C. Hate Crime Team is investigating whether the pamphlet is hate literature.[/quote']

This is interesting

 

Canada Post: Non-mailable Matter

 

Generally' date=' non-mailable matter means any mail that is prohibited by law (e.g., illegal, obscene, fraudulent)[/b'] ...

 

Criminal Code and Other Offences

Any person using the mail for the delivery of any one of the following items commits an offence:

 

- articles that are obscene, indecent, immoral or scurrilous

- any information relating to bookmaking, pool-setting, betting or waging

- articles relating to unlawful lottery schemes

- any article relating to schemes to deceive or defraud the public

- articles or special messages sent to any person with the intention to obtain money under false pretences.

Hmm...

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...