Postal workers hit the picket lines
- Ron Giofu
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Canada Post and its unionized employees are once again at an impasse with those represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) returning to the picket lines.
Canada Post said it “welcomed changes” the federal government announced last Thursday. CUPW, on the other hand, was less enthused and went back on strike. The last time workers were on the picket line was last November and December.
The announcement by the federal government allows Canada Post to end door-to-door delivery to individual addresses or convert some post offices to help the company get its finances in order. Rural, remote and Indigenous communities will not lose their mail access, under the announcement.
Dan Sutton, local CUPW spokesperson, said the union “is pretty outraged” by the government’s announcement. He said they had not heard what was going to be in the announcement until it was made by Minister Joël Lightbound.
“The members of CUPW and the citizens of Canada found out at the same time,” said Sutton.
Senior members of CUPW met with government officials prior to the announcement and there was not a mention of it, Sutton said.
“Saying we’re outraged is pretty much hitting the nail on the head,” he said, while joining his colleagues on the picket line in Amherstburg.
Canada Post has had two months to “come to terms” with the fact the union rejected the company’s “forced vote” a couple of months ago, with Sutton saying the two groups within the union rejected it by 70 per cent for each.
Not much effort has come from the company in an effort to find a negotiated agreement, he added, and called for the company to vote in good faith. They have had over one month to respond to the union’s Aug. 20 offer, he added.
CUPW wants to work with the company to get a new, fairly negotiated contract, but believed the company wants the federal government to intervene.
Sutton said the union believes the company can improve its parcel delivery with a new agreement in place. He also questioned why stamp prices haven’t been raised more, noting a 2025 increase raised $370 million in new revenue.
“That doesn’t get mentioned,” said Sutton. “Just the losses get mentioned.”
Other ideas, such as postal banking, have also been mentioned by the union and he believed the company has shown limited interest in going down that route.
“Our last new contract began in 2018,” Sutton pointed out. “We want a negotiated deal. Canada Post is reluctant to come to the table.”
In last Thursday’s statement by the corporation, it states the announcement by the Government of Canada “will allow our country’s national postal service to chart a strong, financially sustainable path forward that supports the changing needs of Canadians.”
The combination of “delivering fewer letters to more addresses has led to increased service costs, declining revenues and mounting financial losses. Canada Post recently reported a second-quarter loss of $407 million, marking the Corporation’s largest loss before tax in a single quarter. From 2018 to the second quarter of 2025, the company has posted cumulative losses from operations of more than $5 billion.”
According to Canada Post’s statement: “In mid-2025, with losses mounting, Canada Post began receiving cash injections from the Government of Canada to ensure the company could continue operating. Without significant changes, these losses will continue and will be borne by taxpayers, which is not sustainable.”
“(Last Thursday’s) announcement will allow us to make the changes needed to restore Canada’s postal service for all Canadians by evolving to better meet their needs. We take this responsibility seriously and will work closely with the government and our employees to move with urgency and implement the necessary changes in a thoughtful manner. Our goal is to ensure that a strong, affordable, Canadian-made, Canadian-run delivery provider supports the needs of today’s economy and delivers to every community across the country,” said Canada Post president and CEO Doug Ettinger said in a statement.
Canada Post states it has informed CUPW that, “in light of the significant transformational changes announced by the Government of Canada, it is reassessing its new Global Offers.”
“We remain committed to reaching negotiated agreements with CUPW that are affordable, support our people and help build a sustainable future for the company. We have confirmed with CUPW that we are working diligently and will present these new offers as soon as possible,” the company said in another statement released by its media relations department.
The corporation claimed “CUPW’s proposals would add billions in additional costs.”
“We are disappointed that, in response to the government’s reforms, the union chose to launch a national strike. This will further deteriorate Canada Post’s financial situation,” the company maintained.
Customers should expect delays in service, the company said.
“No new items will be accepted until the national disruption is over,” Canada Post said. “All mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume.”
Delivery of socio-economic cheques and live animals will continue during a disruption, it was stated.
Postal workers hit the picket lines
By Ron Giofu