Canada Post Inks Agreement In Principle With Union, Bringing Rotating Strikes To An End - For Now
Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have finally come to an agreement in principle, allowing rotating strikes to end and uninterrupted deliveries to commence - for now.
The following statement was posted by Canada Post on November 21, 2025:
The parties (Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers – CUPW) have reached agreements in principle but have yet to finalize tentative collective agreements for signing.
While we do so, we have agreed that all strike/lockout activity is suspended. As the parties work to finalize the tentative agreements, we will make no comment on the details of any potential agreement.
The union also posted their own statement, saying they've agreed on the main points of the deal, but if the final language is not to their liking, they still retain the right to call for renewed strike action and work stoppage in the future.
After more than two years of negotiations, we have reached agreements in principle with Canada Post covering both postal bargaining units.
This means both sides have agreed on the main points of the deals, but we need to agree on the contractual language that will form the collective agreements that would be put to a vote by the members.
Under the terms of the agreements in principle with CPC, our current collective agreements shall continue to remain in full force and effect. Upon signing the agreements, the Union agrees to pause its strike action, and the Employer agrees to suspend its right to lockout. The Union will retain the right to strike until new agreements are ratified.
Should the Tentative Agreements not be reached because the parties disagree on how the agreement in principle is reflected in language provisions, the suspension will be lifted for both parties, and the Union may continue strike activity.
This latest round of strikes kicked off in September when Canada Post was given the government greenlight to pursue massive reforms including authorizing phasing out home delivery; adjusting how it delivers mail so that non-urgent post can move by ground instead of air; and lifting the 1994 moratorium on closing rural post offices.
Liz Morton
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers went on full strike for 2 weeks, then moved to a rotating strike schedule in early October which had been in place until this agreement was reached last week.
This agreement couldn't come at a better time as we head into the busy holiday shopping and shipping season, but the devil will be in the final details and Canada Post still has many challenges ahead as they navigate the "existential crisis" of ongoing financial woes.
