Shippers Brace For Potential Canada Post Strike As Back-To-Work Order Expiration Nears
UPDATE 5-15-25
Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have broken down, making labor action even more likely as temporary pause is set to end next week.
After several days of discussions without meaningful progress, Canada Post has informed the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that a temporary pause in discussions is necessary. This pause will allow Canada Post to focus on preparing comprehensive proposals aimed at moving discussions forward constructively.
Negotiations resumed at the end of April after breaking off in March. While CUPW requested that both parties return to the table with the assistance of a mediator, the union has either held or hardened its previous positions on key issues, leaving little room for progress.
With collective agreements for CUPW-represented employees extended until May 22, 2025, we understand that our employees and the people we serve are counting on both parties to find a resolution and avoid further labour disruption.
Canada Post has therefore advised CUPW that it will use this pause to prepare proposals designed to help advance negotiations and achieve a much-needed resolution. Any offers we bring forward will reflect the Corporation’s current realities.
We recognize the significant challenges facing the Corporation and remain committed to adapting to the evolving needs of Canadians. At the same time, we are focused on protecting and enhancing the wages and benefits that are important to our people.
What this means for your business
We had hoped a new collective agreement would be reached by this point, but without new agreements, there is a possibility of a labour disruption on or after May 22.
We know the ongoing uncertainty is challenging for your business and understand you need to make plans for your business operations. Your business requires certainty in our ability to provide reliable service. We want to be able to provide that assurance, but we are preparing for all possible outcomes. We recognize that you need to prepare as well.
Being able to provide you with certainty remains our priority. We are committed to keeping you informed so you can plan and prepare accordingly.
CUPW says Canada Post is behaving disrespectfully by walking away from negotiations and causing further delays.
Canada Post has still not returned to the bargaining table. It’s the third time they have walked away from the table in this round of negotiations. Every time negotiations break off, any chance at progress is delayed. Canada Post is behaving disrespectfully towards the workers who keep the postal service running and the public who want certainty when it comes to their mail and parcels.
Postal workers can’t wait. The public can’t wait. CUPW can’t negotiate alone and there is no reason to delay.
Canada Post must return to the bargaining table, so that we can resolve our issues now. CUPW has been clear from the start: our goal is to negotiate fair collective agreements that our members can ratify.
We are over 55000 strong. If we stand strong and united, we can win!
Stay tuned for updates in this developing story.
A temporary pause on Canada Post labor actions is set to end May 22, 2025 as contract negotiations continue, leaving Canadian shippers bracing for potential impact of another postal shutdown.
Late last year, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) issued a six-month order that temporarily returned Canada Post services following the Canadian Union of Postal Workers strike from November 15 - December 17, 2024, causing disruptions and delays which stretched into early January 2025.
Liz Morton
The most recent update from Canada Post posted on April 29th says they are resuming mediated negotiations with CUPW, but are refraining for further comment at this time at the request of the mediator.
We are letting you know that Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have agreed to resume negotiations. With the support of the mediator, the parties are scheduled to meet over two days this week.
At the request of the mediator, further comments on the discussion will not be shared at this time.
These negotiations are resuming after discussions broke off in March when the parties had been unable to come to a resolution.
The existing collective agreements between Canada Post and CUPW will continue to remain in effect until May 22, 2025.
We are committed to the bargaining process as we strive to reach new collective agreements that will help us better serve the changing needs of businesses and Canadians while providing good jobs to those who provide that service.
We know this ongoing uncertainty is challenging for your business. We had hoped new agreements would be reached by this point – and providing you with this certainty remains our priority.
We will make every effort to be transparent and let you know if there is a risk of a labour disruption. Your business is important to us, and we value the trust you put in us to deliver day in and day out.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers put out their own statement on May 2nd, saying the parties have reached partial agreements on some issues but still have significant differences on others.
As reported in Negotiations Bulletin #75, CUPW and Canada Post returned to the bargaining table on Wednesday and Thursday this week in Ottawa. The meetings were facilitated by two Mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS) who are very familiar with our file.
When the parties met in December, January, and March, many of our issues remained unresolved. This week, the parties agreed to discuss a list of items that had been partially agreed to in previous discussions, with the aim of finalizing them as a way to restart and reinvigorate the discussions. We did not address the issues where significant differences remain this week.
We no longer have the shadow of a federal election or the threat of a new majority government hanging over the bargaining process, and we are hopeful that the new minority government will not want to begin its mandate by attacking postal workers. During this trade war, we would expect the Government to support its own workers and the most Canadian delivery solution available, Canada Post.
Meanwhile, the Industrial Inquiry Commission report is set to be delivered to the Minister of Labour no later than May 15. CUPW and Canada Post should know the contents of the report soon after. CUPW has always maintained the Commission’s mandate was too broad and was not the appropriate venue to discuss the major regulatory changes proposed by Canada Post.
However, we used the Commission to present our position on bargaining and as well as proposals for Canada Post. We hope that the Commissioner’s recommendations will reflect what we said.
Over the next two weeks, the parties will continue to meet with the help of the FCMS to finalize new collective agreements for the Urban Postal Operations (UPO) and Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMCs) bargaining units.
All levels of CUPW have one goal in mind: negotiate good collective agreements that can be ratified by the membership. We encourage all of you to raise your voices with the employer to tell them you support your negotiations committees. We need to show the employer that we are united if we are going to reach agreements in the next three weeks.
With less than 3 weeks until the back-to-work order expires, there's still time for an agreement to be hammered out, but Canadian merchants and international sellers who ship to Canada would be wise to start considering alternatives and making plans in case strikes resume.
If the strikes do resume, the effects could be even worse this time, compounded by tariff and de minimis changes that are already impacting supply chains and cross border trade.
Liz Morton
How did the previous Canada Post strikes impact your business and what do you plan to do if there are additional CUPW labor actions? Let us know in the comments below!
