Canada mail delivery halts as 55,000 postal workers go on strike

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – About 55,000 Canadian postal workers went on strike Friday, bringing a sudden stop to the delivery of mail, packages and more.

"Canada Post’s operations will shut down during a national strike, affecting millions of Canadians and businesses across the country," said Canada Post, the nation's primary postal operator, in a statement issued just after midnight, Friday.

"Mail and parcels will not be processed or delivered for the duration of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed. No new items will be accepted until the national disruption is over," said the statement.

In its 2023 annual report, Canada Post said it delivered an estimated 300 million parcels and 2.2 billion letters.

The workers and the Crown corporation began negotiations a year ago. A Crown corporation is an entity owned by the federal government but run like a private business.

The latest offer from Canada Post provided a 11.5% boost in for wages over four years, along with increased job security and health benefits.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) represents the postal employees and in a statement on X Friday, insisted that its contract demands were reasonable. CUPW said there was a big gap between the union and management on contract terms.

"Our demands are reasonable: fair wages, safe working conditions, the right to retire with dignity, and the expansion of services at the public post office," CUPW said in its statement. "Postal workers are proud to serve their communities, and we want to do the job we love. A strike is a last resort".

In a post on X Thursday, federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon said the government is doing all it can to bring the strike to a swift conclusion.

"Canadians need them to reach an agreement," he posted. "Our top federal mediators have been working with the parties tirelessly, and we are now sending additional resources to the bargaining table.

"We are making sure that these two groups have everything they need to reach a deal."