
In 2018, Canada Post employees went on strike across the country, causing a nationwide disruption to mail and parcel delivery. This strike was the largest in Canada Post's history.
The strike began on June 2, 2018, and lasted for 41 days, with over 8,000 employees participating in rotating strikes in various cities.
Canada Post's operations were severely impacted, with mail and parcel delivery suspended in many areas.
Strike Details
Canada Post workers used rotating strikes to minimize the impact on customers.
The rotating strikes began in October 2018, leading to a backlog of undelivered parcels and mail.
The strike lasted for nearly a month, with parcel and mail delays potentially going into January.
Canada Post estimated it lost over $70 million in revenue during the strike, with the figure climbing daily.
The strike and lockout ultimately cost Canada Post an estimated $200 million in revenue.
Impact and Effects
The 2018 Canada Post strikes had a significant impact on the country.
Mail delivery delays were widespread, with some areas experiencing delays of up to 10 days.
Many Canadians were affected by the strike, with some reporting missed packages and delayed bills.
The strike also had economic implications, with estimates suggesting it cost the economy around $100 million.
Strike Locations

On Monday, Victoria, Edmonton, Windsor, and Halifax were hit with 24-hour walkouts by postal workers.
The Greater Toronto Area was particularly affected, with almost 9,000 postal workers off the job on Tuesday.
This means that if you live or work in these areas, you may have experienced some disruption to mail and package delivery.
Canada Post locations in the Greater Toronto Area were significantly impacted, with thousands of workers participating in the walkout.
Delivery Impact
Canada Post's delivery operations can be significantly impacted by labor disputes.
Mail and parcels will not be delivered or picked up in affected cities, according to Canada Post.
Rotating strikes in 2018 led to a backlog of undelivered parcels and mail.
The strike was nearing the one-month mark by November 20, 2018, and Canada Post warned of parcel and mail delays going into January.
Canada Post estimated it lost over $70 million in revenue during the 2018 strike.
Reasons and Solutions
Fifty thousand postal workers have been without a contract since last year, which is a major reason for the ongoing strike.
The main sticking points involve health and safety measures, job security, and forced overtime, with urban and rural letter carriers having different payment structures, with rural carriers being paid based on the size of their route.
The union wants to see the return of postal banking, which would involve shipping more paper documents by mail.
The federal government can table legislation to force workers back on the job in the event of a strike, as Canada Post is considered an essential service.
What Can the Feds Do?
The federal government has the power to intervene in the strike by legislating the postal workers back to work.
Canada Post is considered an essential service, which means the government can take this action.
In 2011, the Conservative government passed back-to-work legislation to end a postal worker strike followed by a two-week lockout by Canada Post management.
The government can also invoke Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to send the parties to binding arbitration, as they did with the longshore workers in November and rail workers in August.

This option might be considered by the government, but it's not a guarantee, given that they've already done so twice this year.
The Liberal Party lacks a majority of seats in Parliament, which makes it difficult for them to pass back-to-work legislation, especially since the NDP has expressed support for the striking postal workers.
Canada's Minister of Labour Steve MacKinnon has used Section 107 to end strikes in the past, but it's not clear if he'll take this route with the postal workers.
Will the Strike Spread to Other Cities?
The strike has already made its presence felt in several cities, including Victoria, Edmonton, Windsor, Halifax, and Toronto. These cities have been impacted by the rotating strikes, which are chosen by the union's senior leadership.
Currently, the strike has been limited to these specific locations, but it could potentially spread to other regions if negotiations fail again.
Why Strike?
Fifty thousand postal workers have been without a contract since last year, and they're striking to get one that addresses their concerns.
The main sticking points involve health and safety measures, job security, and forced overtime. These issues are crucial for workers who are already dealing with a heavy workload.
Urban letter carriers are paid by the hour, while their rural counterparts are paid based on the size of their route, which often results in rural carriers making less than their urban counterparts.
The union is also pushing for better working conditions and more reasonable expectations for delivering the growing number of parcels. This is especially challenging as the number of actual letters continues to decline.
The return of postal banking is another key issue for the union, which would see more paper documents shipped by mail and potentially create new job opportunities.
Rollback Pile
Canada Post is asking new hires to wait a year before receiving benefits, which are still worse than the ones current workers have.
The company also wants to exclude new hires from the defined-benefit pension plan, which is a significant rollback for postal workers.

In fact, since 2006, starting wages in the union have only increased by 6.7 percent, while workers lost about 50 percent of their purchasing power due to inflation in the same period.
This means that despite the wage increase, workers' pay has not kept pace with the rising cost of living.
As one postal worker pointed out, these rollbacks are not just about the workers, but also about their families, who may go without paychecks before Christmas.
Canada's Future
Canada's Future is looking bright, despite the challenges of 2018. Canada has a growing economy, with a GDP growth rate of 3.5% in 2017, the highest among G7 countries.
The country is also becoming increasingly diverse, with 20.6% of the population being foreign-born in 2016. This diversity is expected to continue, with a projected 30% foreign-born population by 2036.
Canada's future is also shaped by its commitment to environmental sustainability. The federal government has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Canada's future is also marked by a growing need for skilled workers, with a projected 1.2 million job openings by 2025. This is driven by an aging population and a growing economy.
Canada's future is also influenced by its relationships with other countries. The country has a long-standing relationship with the United States, its largest trading partner, and is also a key player in international organizations such as the G7 and the G20.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the main issues in the Canada Post strike?
The main issues in the Canada Post strike were pay raises and safer working conditions for employees, as well as an expansion of public postal services. The union is seeking improvements to address these concerns.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Canada_Post_strikes
- https://globalnews.ca/news/4580638/canada-post-rotating-strike-what-to-know/
- https://labornotes.org/2024/11/canadas-55000-postal-strikers-are-refusing-throw-new-hires-under-bus
- https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/site/canada-post-strike
- https://globalnews.ca/news/10867419/canada-post-strike-lockout-history-costs/
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