In a move that threatens to disrupt mail service across the nation, Canada Post workers have officially served notice of their intent to strike, with action set to begin as early as May 23, 2025. The announcement comes after months of increasingly tense negotiations between the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which represents over 50,000 postal employees nationwide.
“We’ve reached a critical impasse,” said Megan Phillips, CUPW National President, during yesterday’s press conference. “Our members have been working under expired contracts since January, and Canada Post continues to ignore our fundamental concerns about workplace safety, job security, and fair compensation in an era of rising living costs.”
The union’s primary demands include wage increases that keep pace with inflation, enhanced protections against the increasing automation of postal services, and improvements to working conditions that have reportedly deteriorated due to rising parcel volumes during the post-pandemic e-commerce boom. According to CUPW financial reports, postal workers have seen their real wages decline by nearly 4% since their last collective agreement.
Canada Post spokesperson Thomas Hendriks expressed disappointment at the strike notice, stating that the corporation has “made substantial concessions” during negotiations. “We remain committed to reaching a fair agreement that balances the needs of our employees with our financial sustainability as a self-funded Crown corporation,” Hendriks said in a written statement to CO24 News.
Industry analysts warn that the timing of the potential strike could create significant challenges for businesses and consumers. May represents a crucial period for many retailers preparing for summer sales, while government agencies rely heavily on mail service for tax-related communications and benefit distributions. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates that a prolonged postal disruption could cost the economy upwards of $100 million per week.
Federal Labour Minister Carolyn Jefferson has urged both parties to continue negotiations, though she stopped short of suggesting back-to-work legislation. “The collective bargaining process must be respected,” Jefferson told reporters at a Parliament Hill briefing. “However, we encourage both sides to recognize the essential nature of postal services to Canadians and to work toward a resolution before the strike deadline.”
This would mark the first nationwide postal strike since 2018, when rotating job actions led to significant mail backlogs across Canada. That labour dispute was ultimately ended through legislated return to work, a move that was later challenged in court by the union.
Small business organizations have already begun advising members to prepare contingency plans. “We recommend businesses communicate with customers about potential delays and consider alternative delivery services for time-sensitive items,” said Marcus Wong, director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
For many Canadians, especially those in rural and remote communities where alternative delivery options are limited, a postal strike could create serious challenges. Indigenous communities in northern regions rely heavily on mail service for medication deliveries and essential supplies, raising concerns about potential health and safety impacts.
As the clock ticks toward the May 23 deadline, the question remains: will last-minute negotiations prevent service disruptions, or are Canadians about to experience another prolonged battle in the ongoing tension between postal modernization and workers’ rights?
