Marion Pollack and Micki McCune
Interviewed by Al Cornes
Marion Pollack and Micki McCune both started working for Canada Post as mail sorters in the 1970s. While both were initially impressed with the union wages they were earning, they soon became union activists, given the working conditions at Canada Post. These included sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, sexism, racism, and arbitrary and unfair management. As feminists, they advocated for the formation of women’s committees in unions and engaged in many campaigns to advance the rights of women in the workplace, including paid maternity leave, reproductive rights, and pay equity. In this interview, they also discuss technological change at Canada Post, CUPW strikes, efforts by CUPW to organize rural and suburban mail carriers and gig workers, and international solidarity.
Keywords:
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW); Canada Post; cost of living clause; women’s workplace issues; women’s committees in labour organizations; pay equity; sexism; sexual harassment; harassment; racism; maternity leave; maternity leave top-up; reproductive rights; gender-based violence; shop stewards; arbitrary supervision; absenteeism; technological change; strikes; 1978 CUPW strike; 1981 CUPW strike; 1987 CUPW strike; scabs; international solidarity; Dennis McDermott; Jean Claude Parrot; SORWUC; AUCE; BC Federation of Labour; Labour Councils; Quebec Common Front unions; Letter Carrier’s Union of Canada; RSMC (Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers); PSAC (Public Service Alliance of Canada); gig workers; Union of Postal Communications Employees; Foodora Canada