31 May: Thousands of Canada Post employees rallied in 13 cities nationwide on Saturday, voicing their frustration over stalled contract negotiations and demanding fair treatment from the Crown corporation. The rallies, led by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), come as the union’s 55,000 members continue their struggle for a fair collective agreement amidst growing tensions.
Basia Sokal, a letter carrier from Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, joined the Halifax rally, describing Canada Post’s handling of the negotiations as “shameful.” Sokal, who has worked in various provinces over 16 years, said conditions for workers have deteriorated steadily. She accused Canada Post of deliberately delaying negotiations to justify cuts to jobs and public postal services.
“We’re not just delivering mail — we help neighbours, we assist in emergencies, and we support our communities every day,” said Sokal, urging the public to contact their MPs in support of postal workers.
The rallies were held in cities including Brampton, Edmonton, and Vancouver. They follow what the union describes as a negotiation deadlock after months of talks. CUPW has now proposed binding arbitration as a way to resolve the dispute fairly and finally.
Earlier this week, Canada Post presented its “final offers” to the union. These included an end to compulsory overtime and a signing bonus of up to $1,000. However, the offer retained contentious elements such as a 14% wage increase spread over four years and the use of part-time workers for weekend shifts — a key sticking point for the union.
Canada Post said the negotiations have reached an impasse and asked Federal Labour Minister Patty Hajdu to compel a vote on its proposals. While the union has been in a legal strike position since May 23, it has so far implemented only a ban on overtime work rather than a full strike.
The conflict follows a 32-day strike in late 2024, which caused major mail disruptions during the holiday season. That strike alone cost the Crown corporation $208 million, according to its annual report. With Canada Post reporting a $1.3 billion operating loss last year and letter volumes continuing to decline, the future of its business model is under increasing scrutiny.
As talks remain at a standstill, both sides face mounting pressure to find a resolution that protects public service and respects the workers who sustain it.
