Government Orders Workers Back Amid Stalled Talks
The Canadian government is acting to end a month-long postal strike disrupting mail delivery nationwide. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon ordered the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to send workers back if no deal is reached. The move aims to restore mail services before the holiday season.
About 55,000 postal workers began striking on 15 November, demanding better pay and working conditions. Negotiations have stalled, with federal mediators reporting significant differences between the two sides.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) criticized the government’s decision, calling it an “attack on our right to strike.”
Canada Post welcomed the order, saying it looks forward to resuming services and continuing negotiations. The Canadian Industrial Relations Board is expected to decide on the government’s request next week.
Strike Impacts Businesses and Remote Communities
The strike has severely affected businesses during the holiday shopping season, causing shipping delays and higher costs. Warehouses are facing inventory backlogs as shipments stall nationwide. Ontario business owner Lorne James warned that financial losses could “wipe out a good number of businesses.”
Northern communities relying on Canada Post for essential deliveries, like medicine and cheque payments, have been heavily impacted. Service Canada also withheld 85,000 passports and other critical documents during the strike.
Minister MacKinnon justified the government’s action, saying “Canadians are rightly fed up” with ongoing disruptions. He emphasized the decision was difficult but necessary to restore essential services. The order requires employees to return under their current agreement until 22 May, with hopes for a new deal by then.
CUPW seeks a 19% wage increase over four years, while Canada Post’s offer is 11.5%. The union also demands better benefits, job security, and safer working conditions. CUPW president Jan Simpson accused Canada Post of delaying talks to force government intervention. Canada Post claimed the union escalated demands instead of negotiating.
Canada Post warned early in the strike that service disruptions would continue even after an agreement due to delivery backlogs. The strike’s impact has already cost Canada Post revenue as customers switched to private carriers or stopped using its services.
The previous Canada Post strike, which began in October 2018, lasted over a month. It ended after the federal government ordered employees back to work, costing Canada Post around C$135 million ($96.7m; £76.27m) in financial losses.
