POSTAL RATES TO INCREASE IN APRIL

CCNA has learned that Canada Post plans to increase postal rates, including rates for Unaddressed Admail, in April 2002.

At a recent meeting of the National Association of Major Mail Users (NAMMU), Canada Post representatives announced the company’s intention to increase postal rates in 2002. While the rate increases have not been approved by Canada Post’s board of directors, approval is expected.

Canada Post plans to notify customers of the increases in October of this year. Future increases will occur in January of each year, starting in January, 2003.

“We have also begun to hear indications that Publications Mail may go up as much as 9.5 to 10 per cent in April 2002 and a further, similar increase in January 2003,” said CCNA Executive Director Serge Lavoie. “We are alarmed by the proposed increases in Unaddressed Admail and by the suggestion that Publications Mail might be going up as well.”

In its presentation to NAMMU, Canada Post announced the following rate increases:

Lettermail
Basic: one per cent increase effective January 2002.
Incentive: between two per cent and three per cent effective April 1, 2002.

Business Reply Mail
Business Reply Free: 5.9 per cent increase effective on contract anniversary date.
Postage: 3.7 per cent increase effective April 1, 2002.

Addressed Admail
Average Price S/L: 3.4 per cent increase effective April 1, 2002.
Average O/S: 4.3 per cent increase effective April 1, 2002.
Dimensional: 6.3 per cent effective April 1, 2002.

Unaddressed Admail
Average Price: 2.2 per cent increase in April 2002.
Non-Contract Price: 5.2 per cent increase in April 2002.
Contract Price: two per cent increase in April 2002.
Transportation Fee: No increase in April 2002.

Because of the current contract negotiations with the Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Post was unable to provide information on rate increases for Publications Mail.

Lavoie said CCNA is attempting to get more information on the proposed increases and anticipates meeting with DCH and Canada Post officials as soon as possible.