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CEIU Local 621's RTO4 Letter-Writing Campaign
Make Your Voice Heard — Write to Your MP
People often ask, "what is the union doing about this?" The answer is: the union is you. What are you doing?
A letter-writing campaign is one of the most direct ways we can be boots on the ground - making our voices heard in our own community and, hopefully, all the way to Ottawa. MPs are required to respond to their constituents, and a steady volume of letters on the same issue is hard to ignore. This is how we show up together and make change happen.
How to Participate
We've made this as simple as possible. There are two ways to send a letter:
Option 1: Use Our Form Letter
We've prepared a ready-to-send letter addressed directly to our MP, Eric Duncan (Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry). All you need to do is fill in your name and address so he can reply to you directly - we handle everything else.
If you work at 551 Campbell:
- Pick up a form letter at the union board.
- Fill in your name and address in the fields at the top.
- Drop it off with Owen (desk 57), Zack (desk 145), or Kaiti (desk 139): they're in the office 5 days a week and will handle the rest.
If you work at Water St. or Hawkesbury:
- Email us to request a form letter, or email us your personally written letter with your return address and we'll handle printing and sending.
- 📧 ceiulocal621@gmail.com
Option 2: Write Your Own Letter
Writing your own letter is even more powerful! MPs pay close attention to personal, individual correspondence. If you want to share your own experience with the RTO mandate, we strongly encourage it.
If you write your own letter, you can also bring up other issues that concern you or your colleagues - such as CURAM!
Your letter doesn't need to be long. A few sincere paragraphs about how this policy has affected you personally can be very effective.
Tips for writing your own letter:
- Open with a brief personal introduction: how long you've worked at Service Canada, what your role involves, or what your community means to you. This kind of detail makes your letter stand out.
- Describe how the RTO mandate has affected your work or home life specifically: your commute, your family situation, your workspace conditions.
- Ask Mr. Duncan to raise the issue in Parliament and support a review of the policy.
- Explicitly request a written reply. MPs are far more likely to respond when asked directly. A simple line like "I would appreciate a written response to the concerns raised in this letter" is all it takes.
- Keep it respectful. A calm, factual, and courteous letter is taken more seriously and gets better results than an angry one. You can be firm and still be polite.
Once your letter is written:
- Drop it off with Owen, Zack, or Kaiti at 551 Campbell, or
- Email it to ceiulocal621@gmail.com with your return address and we'll take care of the rest, including printing.
The government's return-to-office mandate is affecting all of us. Overcrowded offices, constant hot-desking, long commutes just to sit on calls... we know the reality, and it's time our elected representatives heard it too.
Why are we doing this, and what can an MP actually do??
Even though the return‑to‑office mandate is a federal Liberal decision, a Member of Parliament still has real influence when constituents speak up. An MP in the Official Opposition cannot overturn the policy directly, but they can amplify the issue in Parliament and force the government to respond publicly. That influence grows stronger with every constituent who makes their voice heard.
A committed MP has the tools to:
- Raise the issue on the floor of the House of Commons, putting the impacts on local workers directly into the national record.
- Press government ministers during Question Period, demanding justification, evidence, and transparency around the mandate.
- Submit written questions, statements, and motions, which require the government to provide detailed answers.
- Advocate publicly, whether through media interviews, committee participation, or direct outreach to the responsible minister.
Constituents have every right to expect their MP to take a clear, accountable position on a policy affecting so many families. If the MP supports the mandate, they should be prepared to explain that stance. If they oppose it, constituent letters show that speaking up on this issue isn’t just symbolic, it reflects the needs and priorities of the community.
Large‑scale letter writing sends a powerful message: this issue matters, and silence is not an option. When an MP hears from hundreds of residents, it becomes impossible to dismiss the real‑world consequences or the political weight behind the message. And yes, hearing directly from affected workers can shift perspectives and change minds.
This moment also matters for the future. An MP’s engagement, responsiveness, and public position will be remembered during the next election. Constituents are making it clear that they expect representation now, not after the damage is done.
Collective action forces attention, drives accountability, and strengthens the voice of the community. Every letter increases the pressure and makes it harder for the issue to be ignored.
When Are Letters Being Sent?
We'll be collecting and sending letters on a periodic basis through mid-April. Don't wait - the sooner your letter is in, the sooner your voice is counted.
Questions?
Reach out to your executive directly or email us!
Every letter matters. Thank you for being part of this movement!
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