TORONTO — The workers at Canada’s national postal service have commenced a strike following unsuccessful negotiations with Canada Post.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced on Friday that around 55,000 employees are participating in the walkout, citing minimal advancements in the bargaining discussions. This strike is expected to impact mail services significantly, particularly as the busy holiday season approaches.

Earlier this week, the union had issued a 72-hour strike notice, highlighting their demands for fair compensation, improved workplace safety, and various enhancements after nearly a year of negotiations.
“We still hold the belief that a negotiated collective agreement can be reached, but it requires Canada Post to address both new and unresolved issues,” stated the CUPW in an official release.

In response to the strike, Canada Post issued a lockout notice shortly after, yet clarified that they had no intention of enforcing a lockout at this time.
An official statement from Canada Post confirmed that customers should expect delays during the strike period, which will result in the non-delivery of mail and parcels, with certain post offices also being shut down.

The corporation indicated that the closure of facilities would disrupt its national operations, and there may be delays in processing and delivering mail once the strike concludes.
To address the situation, federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the appointment of the director general of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services as a special mediator to facilitate the ongoing talks.
“We are ensuring that both parties have all the necessary resources to arrive at a resolution,” he remarked in a message posted on X.