Canada Post letter carriers could be on strike as early as midnight this Friday, November 15, if no agreement establishing new working conditions is reached with the employer by then.

This is what we learned on Tuesday, November 12. In the last few hours, the Syndicat representing letter carriers gave 72 hours' notice of strike action to the employer. The latter responded with a lock-out notice that would begin at 8 a.m. this Friday, on the eve of Fou Vendredi and the holiday season. 

This labour dispute concerns Canada Post's rural and urban employees. If the strike or lockout goes ahead, mail delivery will be affected as early as the end of the week. The employees' union and Canada Post have been negotiating the terms of a new collective agreement for almost a year. 

In a press release available for consultation on its website, it is stated that the “new proposals protect and enhance what is important to CUPW-represented staff, including offering higher wage increases, while responding to the challenges facing the country's postal service.”  

It also states that “The negotiations come at a critical time for Canada Post, as the Corporation continues to face significant financial and operational delivery challenges in the highly competitive parcel delivery market. In the first six months of 2024, Canada Post recorded an operating loss of $490 million. Since 2018, the company has lost more than $3 billion.” 

Proposals tabled with the employer by the Union include the following:

- Annual wage increases of 11.5% over four years (compounded at 11.97%).

- Protection of the defined-benefit pension plan for current employees, as well as their job security and benefits.

- Ongoing salary protection against unforeseen inflation.

- Enhanced leave entitlements for current employees.

- Transition to an hourly rate of pay for staff represented by the RSFF unit.  

- Support for CUPW's proposal to merge the RSFF unit with the Urban unit.