Canada Postal Carriers Strike After Government Says It Will End Home Deliveries 

Canada’s national postal service, struggling with losses of billions of dollars, said it will end door-to-door delivery and cut other services, leading to a strike that has entered its fifth day and disrupted the economy, CBC reported 

On Thursday, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) called a nationwide strike after the federal government instructed Canada Post to end home delivery and close some rural mail outlets, part of government-pushed reforms aimed at saving costs. 

The CUPW described the proposals as an “attack on our postal service and workers,” the BBC said. The union’s 55,000 members called the strike amid an ongoing dispute over pay and benefits that led to a weeks-long walkout late last year, while the issues remain unresolved. 

According to the proposals, several post offices in areas that were once rural would be closed, and the corporation would have more flexibility to raise prices. To save costs, it could also cut back on air deliveries and more heavily rely on ground transportation of parcels. 

Another significant goal of the proposal is to end home deliveries, sending parcels to community mailboxes instead. About four million addresses in Canada still get home mail delivery.  

The government argues these measures are part of a modernization plan to stabilize Canada Post’s finances and ensure its survival after years of financial losses, as the postal service deals with reduced demand and strong competition from private parcel delivery services. 

Canada Post said it was “disappointed” that the union opted to escalate its strike activity, arguing that with this new strike, operations have shut down, leaving mail and parcels undelivered for millions and further straining the corporation’s already dire finances.  

The Crown corporation is on track to lose over $1 billion in 2025 following a $700 million loss last year. 

The Canadian Association of Independent Business also warned that the strike would have a “massive” impact on the country’s small businesses, especially considering it is taking place ahead of the “critical” holiday shipping season.