Shifting away from Canada Post is the only way to deal with negotiations between workers and the corporation

A Canada Post strike is looming once again with struggles to find common ground between what is best for both the workers and the Crown corporation.

The Canadian Union for Postal Workers (CUPW) announced a two-week pause on its strike on May 21 to review its offer from Canada Post, but the mailing service rejected the union’s extension. 

Later the following day, CUPW called on its mail carriers to start refusing overtime work, capping their work at eight hours a day and 40 hours a week, while they reviewed the latest negotiations from the corporation.

Talks between the two parties have not reached any significant agreements and little movement has been observed. This begs two main questions: what is the latest regarding the issue and what will the implications be for the corporation and consumers?

On May 21, Canada Post filed a new set of proposals to the union days after CUPW announced a potential strike to commence on May 23.

Canada Post tabled a 13.59-per-cent wage increase across a four-year period, six personal days, and “better” income replacement for people on short-term disability leave.

For someone watching from the sidelines, I think these demands are reasonable for an average worker who relies paycheck-to-paycheck to provide for themselves and their families.

It is also reasonable that Canada Post mail carriers want to safeguard their livelihoods and that they are compensated right. They are the ones on the ground making the business function, and if they are speaking up with a big list of concerns, it means that something needs to change. 

What makes the situation challenging is the Crown corporation’s financial difficulties. Canada Post was found essentially “bankrupt” by an industrial inquiry commission adopted under the Canada Labour Code.

Its annual report highlighted a $1.3-billion loss in operating expenses in 2024, with its profits being on the decline since 2018.

The document also had recommendations for Canada Post to modify current structure and systems, including phasing out daily door-to-door deliveries and implementing a “dynamic routing” system where delivery routes for carriers change daily.

The question is how can Canada Post provide all of its proposed changes for its workers if it is struggling to stay afloat? Can there be compromises on the union’s end that can address at least the major concerns of the workers, such as better wages and benefits for full-time employees that are realistic to what the corporation can give?

If both sides do not come to an agreement, another workers’ strike may happen — the second one in a span of six months.

The last strike, back in November 2024, was all over the news as Canadians felt the dire situation over the holiday season. The federal government had to step in and order mail carriers back to work. It’s evident that even now with some time passed, there is still lingering uncertainty as the two parties continue to try to find common ground. 

Normal day-to-day consumers and businesses will also be caught up in the crossfire if there is another strike. No new mail would be accepted and any items in their system will be on hold.

Canadians are losing more trust in Canada Post and finding alternatives to other shipping companies. Small business owners took a major hit last time, losing revenue and customers, and are now wary of what the second strike can potentially do to their finances. 

As consumers, we will not know the full extent of its impact if we have another Canada Post strike. We can only infer that it would reflect similar circumstances from last year’s strike. There is not much we can do but wait and hope that issues will be resolved in a timely manner.

But in the meantime, and perhaps for the foreseeable future, shifting away from Canada Post may just be the only feasible way to deal with the issue until concrete resolutions come from the negotiating table.