Canada Post operations resume after month of services being disrupted

TORONTO, Canada: Canada Post resumed its services on December 17 following a nearly monthlong strike that disrupted mail services across the country.

The strike began after negotiations stalled between Canada Post and its workers over key issues, including wages, job security, and plans to expand delivery services into weekends.

On December 13, the federal government stepped in, with Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon referring the dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, an independent body that resolves workplace conflicts.

After two days of hearings, the board concluded late on December 15 that negotiations were at an impasse and ordered the 55,000 workers to return to their jobs. The decision also extends the current collective agreement until May 22, 2025.

Canada Post confirmed it has agreed with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to implement a five percent wage increase retroactively to the day after the previous collective agreement expired.

MacKinnon, who had previously resisted calls for government intervention, said the strike had severely impacted Canadians, particularly small businesses, remote communities, and Indigenous populations.

MacKinnon noted that Canada Post was built to deliver letters, but its volume has dropped dramatically, and there is a highly competitive parcel delivery market.