Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have resumed negotiations in Ottawa this week as the clock ticks toward a potential return to strike action by 55,000 postal workers across the country.
The talks come nearly five months after a federal back-to-work order ended a month-long strike in December. Despite the intervention, no new agreement has been reached, and both sides remain divided on key issues.
With current collective agreements expiring on May 22, a renewed strike could occur if no resolution is reached. The federal government has appointed a mediator to assist in the latest round of bargaining, and the two sides are scheduled to meet over two days this week.
“We’ve agreed to resume negotiations with the support of a mediator,” said Canada Post spokesperson Lisa Liu, who also confirmed that talks had previously broken off in March. While Liu didn’t reveal further details, she said the company is committed to reaching a deal that balances the changing needs of Canadians with good jobs for workers.
On the union side, CUPW National President Jan Simpson said the union remains firm in its push for fair wages, job security, health and safety protections, and dignified retirement. “If progress is made, talks will continue,” Simpson said in a bargaining update.
A key point of contention remains Canada Post’s proposed “flexible staffing” model, which includes part-time flex positions and weekend delivery shifts using non-full-time staff. Canada Post argues this model is necessary to remain competitive in a parcel delivery market increasingly dominated by private carriers.
CUPW, however, has pushed back against what it calls “serious rollbacks” that would reduce job stability and expand precarious work. In March, Simpson said the union had proposed ways to accommodate weekend parcel delivery without undermining full-time positions.
The broader dispute is also being examined by an Industrial Inquiry Commission led by William Kaplan. His report, expected by May 15, will assess not only the current labour impasse but also Canada Post’s financial struggles and long-term viability.
Those financial issues are not minor. The Crown corporation has lost over $3 billion since 2018, prompting the federal government to authorize a $1 billion bridge loan earlier this year to maintain operations. Without it, Canada Post risked running out of capital entirely.
For now, the situation remains fluid. The next two weeks will be critical in determining whether Canadians face renewed postal disruption—or a new deal that ensures mail and parcel delivery continues uninterrupted.