A Canada Post worker drives a mail truck through a delivery centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. (Photo: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Canada Post is bracing for another major disruption as over 55,000 postal workers plan to go on strike starting this Friday at midnight. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) issued a 72-hour notice on Monday, warning of a potential walkout that could halt mail and parcel deliveries across the country. This marks the second time in six months that Canada Post faces a full shutdown.
If the strike begins, no new mail or packages will be accepted. Items already in the system will be held securely but won’t be delivered until the strike ends. Only social assistance cheques and live animals will still be delivered. However, no new animals will be accepted for transport.
Last year’s 32-day strike, which happened during the busy holiday season, created a massive backlog and delayed millions of deliveries. This time, Canada Post warns the disruption could be just as serious, further straining the company’s finances. In 2023 alone, the postal service recorded an operating loss of $845 million.
Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said the strike would add pressure on small businesses, charities, and regular customers who rely on mail services. He noted that large companies have already begun shifting their deliveries elsewhere, anticipating this week’s contract deadline.
The collective agreements with postal workers are set to expire this Thursday. According to CUPW, the strike notice comes partly in response to Canada Post’s threat to change work conditions and cut benefits without negotiation. The union stressed that there’s still time to reach a deal and emphasized that its main goal is to secure fair contracts for all employees, including 23,000 mail carriers.
The last strike ended only after federal intervention. A ministerial directive led to a Labour Board ruling that forced both parties back to the negotiating table. Now, the union is hoping to avoid another long standoff through renewed talks before the deadline hits.
This labour dispute comes amid growing uncertainty about the future of Canada Post. A new government-commissioned report paints a bleak picture, calling for major structural changes to stop the financial bleed. The report, led by William Kaplan, suggests phasing out daily home mail delivery and allowing rural post office closures. It claims these moves are necessary to keep the service alive.
Kaplan called the situation an “existential crisis” for Canada Post and said his recommendations aim to stabilize the system before it collapses further.
However, CUPW slammed the report. Union spokesperson Siân Griffiths said the proposals ignore public input and reflect only the corporation’s agenda. She argued that valuable feedback from local leaders and communities was completely overlooked.
With time ticking down, the nation waits to see if both sides can return to the table and avoid yet another postal shutdown that could impact millions of Canadians.
