Canada Post workers go on strike, disrupting deliveries

Canada Post workers commenced a strike early Friday following unsuccessful negotiations with their employer.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced that approximately 55,000 members from its urban, rural, and suburban mail carrier (RSMC) units are participating in the strike. The union stated that progress in negotiations has been minimal.

"Canada Post had the opportunity to prevent this strike, but it has refused to negotiate real solutions to the issues postal workers face every day," CUPW said in a statement. "Instead, Canada Post left us no choice when it threatened to change our working conditions and leave our members exposed to layoffs."

The strike begins just as Canadians prepare for Black Friday and the holiday season, a time when the postal service is heavily relied upon for sending and receiving packages, gifts, and cards.

In a statement Friday morning, Canada Post confirmed that its operations will shut down, affecting millions of individuals and businesses. During the strike, mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered, some post offices will remain closed, and service guarantees for items already in the network will be impacted. No new items will be accepted.

The Crown corporation also warned that disruptions will have lingering effects even after the strike ends. "A national strike of any length will impact service to Canadians well after the strike activity ends," it said, adding that mail and parcels will be delivered on a first-come, first-serve basis once operations resume.

Negotiations between CUPW and Canada Post began on November 15, 2023, but earlier this week, Canada Post described the progress as "slow and lacking on major issues." The union had given a 72-hour strike notice on Tuesday after being in a legal strike position since November 3, following a cooling-off period. Over 95% of CUPW members had previously voted in favor of a strike mandate.

Canada Post’s latest contract offer included annual wage increases totaling 11.5% over four years, protection of defined benefit pensions for current employees, job security, and health benefits. However, the union argued that the offer was insufficient, highlighting unresolved issues.

"Our demands are reasonable: fair wages, safe working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and the expansion of services at the public post office," CUPW stated.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon confirmed that mediators, including a special mediator, have been engaged to help both parties reach an agreement. "We are making sure that these two groups have everything they need to reach a deal," he wrote on social media Thursday evening.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) called on the federal government to intervene, suggesting measures like binding arbitration or back-to-work legislation to resolve the disruption. According to the CFIB, approximately 80% of small businesses in Canada rely on Canada Post for shipping, invoicing, or receiving payments.

For small business owners like Rémi Vienneau LeClair of Comic Hunter in Moncton, the strike presents a significant challenge. "Letter mail doesn't have an alternative, and that's what most of our shipping is," he said. "It's asking people if they want to pay $20 instead of $2. It's not really an alternative."

Adding to the disruption, Teamsters Canada declared its members at Purolator will not handle packages postmarked or identified as originating from Canada Post during the strike. "The CUPW has our full support," said spokesperson Christopher Monette. "Good union jobs are essential pillars of Canadian society."