Canada Post Union Strike Expected to Resume on May 23

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) originally went on strike against Canada Post on November 15, 2024 due to failed contract negotiations. The strike was suspended on December 17, 2024, but on May 19, 2025, Canada Post received a strike notice from CUPW stating that the strike would resume at midnight on Friday, May 23, unless the parties reached an agreement before then.

Whether mail and packages will be delivered during the strike depends on whether CUPW initiates small rotating strikes or a national work stoppage. If CUPW initiates rotating strikes, Canada Post will continue to deliver in unaffected areas while efforts to reach an agreement continue. While Canada Post strives to minimize service disruptions, some delays may occur.

In the event of a national work stoppage, mail and parcel delivery will be suspended and no new items will be accepted until the work stoppage ends. All mail already in the network will be held securely and delivered when operations resume. However, social assistance checks will continue to be delivered. Another exception will be made for live animals, although no new animals will be accepted for delivery during the strike.

Whether it is a rotating strike or a national labor disruption, it may take some time for processing and delivery services to return to normal once the strike ends.

What does the strike mean for shipping from the United States to Canada? As of May 20, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has not issued a Service Alert announcing a temporary suspension of international deliveries to Canada. However, it is highly likely that such an alert will be issued in the event of a nationwide work stoppage. During the previous strike, which involved approximately 55,000 workers and resulted in a significant backlog, the USPS suspended international deliveries to Canada on November 29, 2024, and resumed acceptance of Canada-bound mail and packages on January 6, 2025.

Private carriers should not be affected by the strike, so you can use UPS, FedEx, DHL, or any other available alternative if the USPS suspends international deliveries to Canada, provided you are willing to pay extra for their services. However, delivery delays may occur due to an increase in package volume handled by private carriers as a result of the strike.