The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says it will transition from a nationwide strike to rotating strikes beginning Saturday morning, a move aimed at resuming mail and parcel deliveries while continuing pressure on the federal government and Canada Post.
The union announced Thursday evening that rotating strikes will start at 6 a.m. local time in various regions, replacing the countrywide work stoppage that began on September 25. The shift follows a meeting with Joël Lightbound, the federal minister responsible for Canada Post, where union leaders voiced their opposition to sweeping operational changes recently announced by the government.
Those changes include phasing out door-to-door delivery for most Canadian households within the next decade, reducing mail delivery frequency, and closing some post offices — all part of a broader cost-cutting overhaul.
CUPW has criticized the government’s plan as an overstep in the collective bargaining process, while Canada Post has welcomed the reforms as necessary amid mounting financial pressures. Union leaders said they asked Lightbound to roll back the changes during Wednesday’s meeting, but he indicated the reforms would stand. A follow-up meeting is planned for next week.
Neither Canada Post nor Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu’s office immediately responded to the union’s decision. Lightbound’s spokesperson said the minister was not available for comment.
The move to rotating strikes represents a tactical pivot by CUPW, allowing postal services to resume while maintaining job action as negotiations and political battles over the future of Canada Post continue.