Canada Post workers have returned to work after a four-week strike which began on Nov. 15, 2024. The strike stopped deliveries nationwide which affected Canadians and numerous businesses.
According to CTV News, Canada Post announced that while operations officially resumed on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, it will take additional time to clear the backlog of packages and letters accumulated since the strike began. The Crown corporation stated that it would not receive or pick up new items until Dec. 19, with international mail only being accepted starting Dec. 23.
This comes after Steven MacKinnon, Canada’s labour minister, asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to order workers back to work if it determined there was an impasse in negotiations. After two days of hearings, the CIRB ruled that the parties were at an impasse. The CIRB ordered employees to return to work and resume postal operations starting at 8 a.m. local time on Dec. 17, 2024.
Per reports cited by CTV News, the government has also tasked an industrial inquiry commission to examine the unresolved issues and provide recommendations by May 15 on securing a new agreement whilst existing contracts have been extended to May 22. The inquiry will examine the structure of Canada Post, including its customer and business model, according to the labour minister. The review comes as the organization faces challenges in a competitive market. Since 2018, Canada Post has reported a $3.3 billion loss, attributed to declining letter mail volumes and increased competition in the parcel delivery sector.
Canadians have been advised to expect delays in mail and package delivery into January 2025. Canada Post also noted that post office hours may vary during this period as the corporation works to restore operations. Service guarantees will remain suspended as efforts are made to process and deliver the backlog of mail and packages. The corporation emphasized that it will continue to update customers on progress as operations normalize.
The restart of operations across the country during the peak holiday shopping season provided relief to Canadians. However, some customers’ trust in the 157-year-old institution has been impacted by the disruption.
Jan Simpson, president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), issued a response to the ruling on behalf of the union’s national executive board. She described the ruling as an infringement on postal workers’ right to strike but stated that the union would continue its efforts to address workers’ concerns.
Simpson instructed workers to return to their regular shifts on Dec. 17, as ordered by the CIRB. Additionally, workers have been directed not to interfere with preparations for the resumption of Canada Post operations. The union emphasized its commitment to advocating for workers despite the challenges posed by the ruling.
