Canada Post Halts Negotiations Just Before Strike Deadline Approaches

Canada Post (CP) has hit the brakes on its negotiations with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), raising concerns about a possible work stoppage as the current labor agreement is set to expire on May 22.

In a statement released on May 13, CP explained that this pause was essential for crafting a fresh proposal. Thay expressed frustration,noting that CUPW has either maintained or intensified its stance on critical issues,which hampers any chance for meaningful progress. Initially, CP had hoped to finalize an agreement well ahead of the deadline but now acknowledges that disruptions could occur around or after May 22.

In response, CUPW quickly voiced their concerns, stating they feel left in limbo regarding when talks might resume.The union criticized CP for not owning up to its financial troubles. Since 2018, Canada Post has faced annual losses and only avoided disaster thanks to a $1 billion bailout from the federal government earlier this year. Without it,they were projected to run out of cash by mid-2025. Additionally,in February,CP laid off 50 management staff due to what they termed a “critical financial situation,” according to Global News.

The back-and-forth between CP and CUPW has been rocky for months now. In November 2024, workers went on strike for nearly four weeks until government intervention forced them back into service.Negotiations resumed in february but stalled again just a month later without reaching an agreement. A mediation session took place over two days at the end of April in hopes of reviving discussions; however, just two weeks later came this latest pause from Canada Post.