Canada Post Workers Strike Nationwide as Reforms Threaten Jobs and Door-to-Door Deliveries

Mail delivery across Canada has been severely disrupted after thousands of postal workers went on strike, protesting against sweeping reforms announced by the federal government.

The strike, which began on September 25, follows Ottawa’s approval of major restructuring at Canada Post, including the closure of several post offices and the gradual end of door-to-door deliveries for millions of Canadians. The changes, according to the government, are aimed at making the postal service financially viable amid sharp declines in letter mail and growing competition from private couriers.

However, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has described these reforms as “a direct assault on Canada’s public postal service,” warning that they could lead to massive job losses and reduced accessibility for Canadians.

Impact on Mail and Services

Canada Post confirmed that normal operations were halted once the strike began, leaving mail and parcels undelivered nationwide. Although social security cheques and passport processing continue, Canadians have been told to expect significant delays.

By October 11, CUPW shifted from a full nationwide strike to rotating strikes, allowing partial mail delivery to resume, though service disruptions persist.

Reasons Behind the Strike

The union’s main concern lies in the federal government’s plan to end home delivery for around four million households, replacing it with community mailboxes. Other proposed measures include:

Reducing delivery days,

Allowing non-urgent mail to be transported by ground instead of air,

Closing certain rural post offices, and

Granting flexibility to raise postage prices.

While Prime Minister Mark Carney defended the changes as “necessary to keep Canada Post viable,” CUPW argues that the reforms undermine workers’ rights and the public’s access to affordable postal services.

Ongoing Negotiations

The strike follows unresolved tensions from a similar dispute last year. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, both parties have failed to reach a new collective agreement.

On October 3, Canada Post presented a new offer including wage increases but proposed reducing workforce size and cutting sign-on bonuses—terms the union rejected as “a major step backwards.”

Government officials, including Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu, have not ruled out federal intervention if talks remain deadlocked.

The Financial Reality

Canada Post’s financial troubles have worsened in recent years. Once delivering over 5.5 billion letters annually, the postal service now handles less than 2.2 billion. Parcel market share has also plunged from 62% in 2019 to 24% in 2023.

In 2024 alone, Canada Post lost C$1 billion, and it is projected to lose C$1.5 billion this year. The government has already loaned C$1 billion to sustain operations.

The CUPW has suggested diversifying services—such as providing banking and insurance—to generate revenue. However, Canada Post insists on focusing on core services, including expanding parcel delivery to seven days a week.

As negotiations continue, Canadians remain uncertain about when regular postal operations will resume.