Canada Post Strike: 10 Million Parcels Undelivered as Black Friday Approaches

A strike by over 55,000 Canada Post workers, which began on November 15, has resulted in significant disruptions to the country’s postal services. As of the latest updates, Canada Post has missed delivering an estimated 10 million parcels, a figure that is particularly concerning as the critical Black Friday shopping period approaches.

The strike, led by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), is centered around several key issues, including the protection of jobs and benefits, as well as the expansion of parcel deliveries into weekends. Canada Post has proposed changes to its delivery model to include weekend deliveries, but the union and the company remain at odds over how to implement these changes without compromising worker rights.

Despite ongoing negotiations supported by a special mediator since November 18, the parties have made limited progress. Canada Post has emphasized the need to adapt to the dynamic e-commerce delivery market, while the union is focused on preserving the rights and benefits of its members. The company has reported a $315-million loss before tax in its third quarter and sees weekend deliveries as a crucial step to boost revenue.

The strike has also highlighted the broader labor tensions in Canada. The Teamsters Canada, which had initially pledged support for the striking postal workers, has been criticized for not taking more decisive action to support the strike. This criticism comes in the context of previous labor disputes where the Teamsters Canada did not effectively challenge government-imposed strike bans and corporate demands.

As the strike continues, Canada Post has warned customers to expect significant delays in processing and delivering mail and parcels once services resume. The company is working to stabilize operations, but the longer the strike lasts, the greater the impact will be on customers and businesses relying on the postal service.

In addition to the operational challenges, the strike has also led to layoffs of retail employees at Canada Post’s retail postal outlets. The CUPW has been criticized for not providing a clear way forward for these workers to resist these layoffs collectively.