Union declares nationwide postal strike following government recommendations

The union representing Canada Post workers has announced a nationwide strike following the federal government’s decision to lift long-standing restrictions on the Crown corporation as it struggles with mounting financial losses.

In a statement, Canada Post said it is disappointed the union chose to escalate its strike activity, which will further deteriorate the corporation’s financial situation.

Canada Post operations will shut down during a national strike, affecting millions of Canadians and businesses across the country.

“Canada Post is now facing an existential crisis,” said Joël Lightbound, minister of government transformation, public works and procurement. “Since 2018, the corporation has accumulated more than $5 billion in losses. In 2024 alone, it lost over $1 billion, and in 2025, it is already on track to lose close to $1.5 billion.”

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said Lightbound announced the government was accepting and instructing Canada Post to implement the recommendations from William Kaplan’s Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC) report from May. The recommendations include converting four million addresses to community mailboxes, removing the rural moratorium on post office closures, giving Canada Post more flexibility in its delivery standards — including cutting the requirement to deliver five days a week — and allowing the corporation to raise stamp rates more frequently.

“This announcement was an outrage,” CUPW said in a release. “Minister Lightbound gave the union no indication that he was going to do this when leadership met with him last week. The minister said he had the ‘utmost respect’ for postal workers. This is no way to show it.”

Lightbound said the measures could save hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

“Canada Post is a vital national institution worth preserving,” he said. “The measures announced today will help place the corporation on a stronger financial footing and provide the flexibility it needs to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.”

Canada Post said customers should expect delays in mail service, as mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed. Service guarantees are suspended for items already in the postal network, and no new items will be accepted until the disruption is over.

“All mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume,” Canada Post said. “However, a national strike of any length will impact service to Canadians and businesses well after the strike activity ends. Processing and delivery may take some time to fully return to normal.”

Canada Post and CUPW have agreed to continue the delivery of socio-economic cheques during any labour disruption for eligible and participating government organizations.

A process is also in place to ensure existing live animal shipments continue during a disruption, though no new shipments will be accepted.

Canada Post had welcomed the government’s announcement, citing years of declining letter mail and growing delivery costs.

“Canadians cannot continue to pay more through their taxes for a service they use less and less,” the corporation said.

President and CEO Doug Ettinger said the changes will help ensure the postal service can adapt.

“Today’s announcement will allow us to make the changes needed to restore Canada’s postal service for all Canadians by evolving to better meet their needs,” he said.