“I’d rather be working right now”: Postal workers strike over Canada Post reforms

The CUPW and Canada Post have been in contract negotiations for over a year. The union said the announcements show Ottawa is paving the way for privatization.

“The corporation will tell the public that it’s due to the cost of the workers, but in the whole time, all of last year, when they’re citing money losses, they invested money into high-tech sortation plants, electric vehicles that are sitting in parking lots, all while they’re coming up to negotiation time so they can look like they don’t have any money,” said CUPW Local 810 president Ben McCloy. “And the public doesn’t hear that part. They hear that the postal workers want more money, and they don’t want to work any harder, and these are so untrue.”

McCloy said Ottawa’s announced changes were like a ‘punch to the gut.’ In 2013, when Prince Albert moved completely to community mailboxes, 10 full-time letter carriers were laid off. He said more job losses and the closure of post offices in rural communities will create real challenges for residents in those communities, especially seniors and people who don’t have easy access to transportation.

“In a larger centre, you can go check your mail any day on your way home from work…you stop at your box here in the city and that’s no big deal. For them, they may have to drive into P.A. Like Smeaton is going to be what…a 35 minute drive each way to come and check their mail,” McCloy said.

Harper said workers are not against everything that’s being proposed in contract negotiations, including weekend delivery. The union just doesn’t want it being done by a part-time employee.

“The offer isn’t there for us to even come in and work on the weekend,” said Harper. “They want as many temporary workers or part-time workers because they don’t have to pay benefits to these people.”

In a press release issued Friday afternoon, Canada Post said it supports the reforms announced by the government. It also said the union’s decision to launch a national strike will further deteriorate Canada Post’s financial situation.

“CUPW’s proposals would add billions in additional costs,” the release read.

“Facing a growing financial crisis – more than $5 billion in losses from operations since 2018 – the company cannot agree to CUPW’s counteroffers of August 20, which maintained or hardened the union’s position on many items.”

The release went on to cite examples from CUPW’s offer that would ‘add significant costs’ including increased paid time off work, more than $700 million a year in new operating costs and no mention of dynamic routing or load-leveling, meaning letter carriers would continue to be paid for eight hours of work, even if volumes mean they finish early. Canada Post pointed to the Industrial Inquiry Commission final report that said:

“There is no persuasive case to be made that any business – especially an effectively insolvent business – should be put in a situation where it must pay people for 8 hours a day and not be able to reassign them to other work should they finish early (or where it is anticipated they will do so).” p.75

Impact on customers

Canada Post is shuttering operations during the strike. There are only a few exceptions such as delivering pension cheques and social assistance like disability support payments.

On their website, the RM of Buckland noted due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, mail delivery may be delayed. To ensure rate payers stay informed and avoid any late fees, they are encourages to take advantage of the option for e-notices for bills and receipts.

Earlier this year, the Government of Saskatchewan implemented contingency plans in response to the postal labour disruptions and said the plans are in place to limit impact on services.

Go Paperless:

Fill out an Email Consent Form to sign up for eNotices. This allows you to receive your tax notices, newsletters, invoices, and receipts via email.

Social Services payments

The Ministry of Social Services has a plan in place to distribute benefits in person at service centres across the province.

Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) monthly benefit cheques that are normally distributed by mail will be available for in-person pick-up starting the week of Monday, September 29.

Drug Plan and Extended Benefits

Residents requiring letters to submit to their private insurance providers for Special Support, Seniors’ Drug Plan, or Exception Drug Status may submit the request through the online Saskatchewan Formulary. Letters will be mailed once the Canada Post service disruption is resolved.

Health cards and vital statistics certificates

Incoming and outgoing mail delays may affect applications for health cards and certificates for births, deaths or marriages. Visit eHealthsask.ca for options to minimize delays, including ordering online.

Crop Insurance/AgriStability information and payments

The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) will work with customers to determine alternate options for accessing information typically delivered through Canada Post, such as faxing, emailing or delivering to a customer service office for pick-up. Producers are encouraged to sign-up for direct deposit for receiving program payments. The direct payment form is available on SCIC’s website.

Payments to Government of Saskatchewan suppliers

The Ministry of Finance will make supplier cheques available for pickup in Regina for suppliers unable to register for direct deposit. Suppliers should call 306-787-7450 to make arrangements.

Taxes, refunds and grant payments

During the postal disruption, businesses are expected to ensure they file and pay taxes to the Ministry of Finance on time. Mail delays do not change tax deadlines or the assessment of penalties and interest. For more information, review the Information Notice – IN 2025-03, Filing and Paying Provincial Taxes During a Postal Disruption.

Tax clients are encouraged to sign up for the secure and convenient Saskatchewan eTax Services (SETS) online portal to file and pay taxes electronically and avoid any delays in meeting tax obligations.

Tax refunds and grant payments sent by direct deposit will not be delayed. You can sign up for direct deposit by emailing a completed direct deposit form to pstrefunds@gov.sk.ca or call 1-800-667-6102 to delay the refund or grant payment, or request a courier delivery at your own cost.

Crown utility accounts, bills and more

SGI, SaskTel, SaskPower and SaskEnergy invite customers to sign up for online billing and notifications to ensure they receive information about their utility bills, driver’s licence and vehicle registration renewals and other important communications.

Public Guardian and Trustee

The Public Guardian and Trustee’s office is preparing backup options for clients and client service providers who get payment cheques by mail. Clients and service providers are encouraged to switch to direct deposit as soon as possible. They can do so by contacting their trust officer or the Public Guardian and Trustee’s office at 1-877-787-5424 or by email at pgt@gov.sk.ca.

Clients and suppliers and businesses can visit www.saskatchewan.ca/postal-strike for more detailed information.

-With files from The Canadian Press and paNOW’s Nigel Maxwell

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

by Teena Monteleone

“I’d rather be working right now”: Postal workers strike over Canada Post reforms

Impact on customers

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