CUPW negotiations: Canada Post continues to operate as CUPW initiates strike action with national overtime ban
May 23, 2025, 02:16 am
6 comments
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has launched a nationwide overtime ban for employees in both the Urban and RSMC (Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers) bargaining units. This is a legal strike action and means that CUPW-represented employees will refuse to work overtime across the company.
As a result, Canada Post will continue operating but customers may experience delays. It’s unclear how CUPW’s strike action may evolve. At this time, there are no rotating strikes or national work stoppage. The Corporation will keep Canadians and businesses informed if strike activity escalates and there are changes to postal operations.
The union issued strike notices earlier this week indicating that it intended to begin strike activity as of Friday, May 23 at 12:00 a.m. local time, unless the parties reached agreements before then. The terms and conditions of employment for CUPW-represented employees in the Urban and RSMC bargaining units have not changed.
Update on negotiations
On May 21, the Corporation presented CUPW with global offers that increase wages, remove key sticking points and include changes needed to compete in the parcel delivery business. They also reflect the Corporation’s financial and operational realities.
The offer details are available at canadapost.ca/offers. The company is ready to return to the bargaining table as soon as possible to resume negotiations with the assistance of the mediators.
Canada Post has already seen parcel and mail volumes decline significantly as customers prepare for another potential labour disruption.
Labour disruption would affect millions of Canadians and businesses
Further escalation in strike activity would have major impacts on employees, small businesses and the millions of Canadians who rely on the postal system – and deepen the company’s already serious financial situation. It is critical that both parties focus their energies on resolving issues to reach negotiated agreements.
Stay up to date
We’ll notify you if strike activity escalates and keep you informed as the situation develops. Continue to check our website to get updates and stay informed with the latest information on negotiations.
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Negotiations have been going on too long with nothing meaningful happening. Time to settle this nonsense. I’d rather have a job with less “perks” than no job at all!
KJ must be from Union. My station over 90% say YES to accept CP best offer
AGREED!!!!
Over the years CUPW has obtained many improvements for us – good wages, benefits, a pension plan and improved safety at work to name just a few.
And for their part, Canadians have repeatedly said that they want to see Canada Post continue to play a role in their lives as they rely on us to deliver their mail.
In spite of the fact that Canada Post is in financial difficulty, both government and the Commissioner believe that there is still a way to preserve it as a vital institution. This will happen either through positive negotiations between CUPW and Canada Post or through privatization.
It is time for us all to come to grips with the fact that Canada Post is in trouble and needs the help of its employees to keep the company viable. (How it got there is no longer important; what we can do to help them move forward is.)
CHANGES ARE NEEDED AND IF WE DON’T ACCEPT THIS, WE MAY NOT HAVE A JOB.
In light of the IIC’s findings, hopefully our negotiators can see that calling another strike is a no-win situation. Not only will we be letting down the very people who have long supported us but public opinion will very quickly turn against us. And another strike will not solve Canada Post’s financial problems.
As my representatives I would encourage our negotiators to:
– accept the Commissioner’s report as both cogent and relevant,
– stay at the bargaining table for as long as is necessary to get the best deal possible,
– protect our current benefits but bargain in good faith using the IIC’s findings as a guideline,
– get over your bias towards part-time workers and consider the 55,000 members that are currently supporting you in your negotiating efforts.
Respectfully
Very well said!!! Lets hope they listen!!!
Excellent analysis, and I fully agree. Let’s hope both sides can compromise, so we can all move forward.