Canada Post workers have officially gone on strike after failing to reach a deal with their employer. Around 55,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), including urban, rural, and suburban carriers, are participating in the strike, citing stalled negotiations and concerns about job security and working conditions.
CUPW stated that Canada Post could have avoided the strike by addressing key issues but instead made changes that put workers at risk of layoffs. Talks between the two sides are still ongoing.
The strike began just as the busy holiday season approaches, impacting businesses and individuals who rely on Canada Post for shipping gifts, packages, and cards. Canada Post announced that its operations are shut down for the duration of the strike, meaning no mail or parcels will be processed or delivered, and some post offices will remain closed. Items already in the system may face delays, and no new packages will be accepted.
Despite the disruption, benefit cheques for programs like the Canada Child Benefit, Old Age Security, and the Canada Pension Plan will still be mailed, but only for organizations that enrolled before the strike began.
Canada Post warned that even after the strike ends, the backlog could cause delays in services for some time. This strike could push Canadians to find other shipping options during the busy Black Friday and holiday season.
