The postal strike situation in Canada just took another turn, and if you’ve been wondering why your mail’s running slow or your pizza flyers stopped showing up, here’s what’s going on behind the scenes.
Canada’s postal workers have been locked in a battle with Canada Post for almost two years now, and things aren’t getting better anytime soon. What started as contract talks back in late 2023 has turned into a drawn-out fight that’s affecting millions of people across the country.
The Latest Move: No More Junk Mail
Starting September 15, 2025, postal workers decided to stop delivering those advertising flyers that usually stuff up your mailbox. You know the ones – pizza coupons, grocery store deals, and furniture store ads that most people toss straight into recycling anyway.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced this ban on “Neighbourhood Mail” delivery, which is their fancy term for unaddressed advertising material. Your regular letters, bills, and packages are still getting delivered, but those weekly flyers? Not happening.
This postal strike tactic comes after months of workers refusing to work overtime. Since May 23, postal employees have been sticking to their regular 40-hour work weeks and saying no to extra shifts. It’s their way of putting pressure on Canada Post without completely shutting down mail service.
How We Got Here
Let’s rewind a bit. The postal strike drama really kicked off in November 2024 when workers went on a full strike for over a month. That completely shut down mail delivery right during the holiday shopping season – talk about terrible timing.
The government eventually forced everyone back to work in December, but they only extended the contract until May 2025. When that deadline hit, both sides were still nowhere near a deal.
Instead of another complete shutdown like last time, the union tried a smarter approach. They started with an overtime ban in May, then switched to stopping flyer delivery in September. It’s like turning up the heat slowly instead of just flipping a switch.
Jan Simpson, the union president, explained that this postal strike strategy is meant to “minimize disruptions to the public and lost days to members.” Workers still get their regular paychecks, and important mail keeps moving, but Canada Post feels the pressure where it hurts – their bottom line.
What They’re Fighting About
So what’s all this fuss really about? It comes down to some pretty basic stuff that affects real people:
Money problems everywhere. Postal workers say their wages haven’t kept up with inflation at all. Starting wages have only gone up 6.7% since 2006, while everything else – rent, groceries, gas – has skyrocketed. That’s not exactly a recipe for happy employees.
Canada Post, on the other hand, is bleeding money. They’ve lost over $3 billion since 2018, and the government had to give them more than $1 billion just to keep the doors open in 2025. When you’re that deep in the red, big raises seem pretty impossible.
Part-time versus full-time jobs. Canada Post wants to hire more part-time workers, especially for weekend shifts and busy periods. Sounds reasonable, right? Not to the union. They’re worried this postal strike issue stems from the company trying to replace good full-time jobs with benefits with a bunch of part-time positions that offer less security.
The union’s particularly upset about Canada Post’s plan to add what they call “flex” workers – part-timers who could work up to 30 hours a week but wouldn’t get the same benefits as full-time staff.
Working conditions that suck. Postal workers have been relying heavily on overtime just to get all the mail delivered. The union wants more full-time positions so people aren’t working crazy hours constantly. Canada Post says they can’t afford that many full-time employees.
Where Things Stand Now
Right now, the situation’s kind of stuck. Workers rejected Canada Post’s “best and final” offer back in August – over 68% voted no on the deal. That offer included a 13% wage increase over four years and plans to add more part-time workers.
The union called it inadequate and said it didn’t address their main concerns about job security and working conditions. Canada Post said they couldn’t afford anything better given their financial situation.
Both sides are still talking with federal mediators, but progress has been slow. The postal strike has already cost Canada Post millions in lost revenue as customers switch to other shipping companies or just delay sending things.
What This Means for You
If you’re waiting for mail, here’s the reality: most stuff is still moving, just slower than usual. Regular letters, bills, and packages are getting delivered, but expect delays, especially if you live in a busy area where they used to rely on overtime to catch up.
The flyer ban that started September 15 might actually be a blessing for many people who were tired of dealing with all that advertising mail anyway. But local businesses that depend on those flyers to reach customers aren’t thrilled about it.
Small businesses have been hit hardest by this postal strike. Many have had to find alternative shipping methods, which often cost more. Some report their shipping costs have doubled or tripled as they switch to private courier companies.
For regular folks, it means being patient and maybe having backup plans for important stuff. Need to send something urgent? You might want to consider other options like courier services or digital alternatives.
What Happens Next
Nobody knows exactly how long this postal strike will drag on, but there are a few possible endings to this story.
The two sides could eventually reach a deal, though they seem pretty far apart right now. The government could step in again like they did last winter, forcing everyone back to work and imposing a contract. Or things could escalate into a full strike again if the union decides the overtime ban and flyer boycott aren’t working.
The union’s made it clear they’re not backing down on their main demands. They want better wages, more full-time jobs, and protection against what they see as Canada Post trying to downgrade working conditions.
Canada Post insists they’re offering as much as they can afford given their dire financial situation. They say the union’s demands would add billions in costs that the company simply doesn’t have.
This postal strike isn’t just about mail delivery – it’s become a bigger fight about the future of work in Canada. Questions about fair wages, job security, and work-life balance are ones lots of workers across the country are dealing with right now.
Whether you’re team postal worker or team Canada Post, one thing’s clear: the current situation isn’t working for anyone. Workers deserve fair treatment, the company needs to stay afloat, and customers just want their mail delivered reliably.
The postal strike story is still being written, and how it ends will probably influence other labor disputes across Canada. Until then, we’re all just waiting to see who blinks first – and hoping our important mail eventually shows up.
