Postal workers escalate strike actions as talks with Canada Post stall

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says it will escalate strike actions as negotiations with Canada Post near the two-year mark without resolution.

On Sept. 15 at 12:01 a.m. local time, postal workers will stop delivering flyers, or Neighbourhood Mail, replacing the overtime ban that has been in effect since May 23, 2025.

“Canada Post has had our global offers since Aug. 20, and instead of responding, they issued an ultimatum: change our offers or they would walk away, with no commitment to return,” said Jan Simpson, CUPW National president. “We’ve been left with no choice but to change our strike activity with the hope that Canada Post finally takes us seriously and returns to the bargaining table.”

Simpson added that “Postal workers overwhelmingly rejected Canada Post’s proposals in a government-forced vote, yet Canada Post insists on the same rollbacks, calling them non-negotiable. That’s not bargaining.”

Canada Post said it only learned about the union’s new job action through CUPW’s news conference.

“We are disappointed in CUPW’s decision to ban the delivery of Neighbourhood Mail,” the corporation said in a statement. “This decision will impact the thousands of Canadian businesses that reach their customers with information and offers through the mail. It will also impact CUPW-represented employees who are paid to deliver flyers on top of their wages.”

The corporation said the move will add to uncertainty already weighing on the business, noting a second-quarter loss of $407 million, the largest before-tax quarterly loss in its history.

“The gap between the parties remains substantial,” the statement said. “CUPW’s most recent offers either maintained or hardened its positions on many items, adding significant new costs. We encourage CUPW to come back with workable solutions that reflect our current reality and get the parties closer to a resolution.”

CUPW said “progress can only be made at the bargaining table,” while Canada Post said it remains committed to reaching new collective agreements through the bargaining process.