Canada Post Rotating Strikes: How Shippers Can Minimize Holiday Disruptions
Amid ongoing labor disruptions, businesses relying on Canada Post should focus on clear communication with customers and securing alternative delivery options, experts advise.
Background on the Strikes
Employees of Canada Post, represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), have initiated rotating strikes as the holiday delivery season approaches. This labor action threatens to cause significant delays during a critical shipment period for many businesses.
Last year, a full national strike occurred during the holiday season due to stalled contract negotiations, which halted Canada Post operations and caused widespread delivery delays. The labor dispute has persisted into 2025, triggering measures such as overtime bans, a halt on unaddressed direct mail deliveries, and additional nationwide strikes.
Current Status of Rotating Strikes
In response to the situation, CUPW shifted from full strikes to rotating work stoppages last month. These rotating strikes affect mail and parcel pickups and deliveries in specific areas, affecting service intermittently.
- As of Tuesday, strikes were active in the Ontario communities of London and Cobourg.
- Eighteen other locations have experienced rotating strikes since October began.
"Once the strike is over in a given location, the delivery of mail and parcels will restart as quickly as possible once operations resume," Canada Post stated.
Additional Service Interruptions
Besides the rotating strikes, Canada Post employees are refraining from processing or delivering unaddressed advertising mail in parts of Ontario and Quebec, with some exceptions, according to CUPW National President Jan Simpson.
Key Points for Shippers
- Maintain proactive communication with customers to manage expectations.
- Arrange multiple delivery options to mitigate risks from postal disruptions.
- Monitor strike locations to adjust logistics plans accordingly.