Canada Post remains paralyzed by a nationwide strike led by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which erupted on September 25 as the second major labor disruption in the protracted 2024-2025 dispute.
The walkout has brought mail and parcel services to a grinding halt, triggering widespread disruptions across the country, even as government agencies scramble with contingency plans to safeguard essential deliveries.
The strike ignited mere hours after the federal government unveiled sweeping reforms aimed at salvaging the Crown corporation from what officials have termed an "existential" financial crisis.
Canada Post faces projected losses of $1.5 billion in 2025, compounding years of mounting deficits. These reforms, intended to staunch the bleeding without further taxpayer intervention, have fueled accusations of mismanagement and collusion from within the ranks.
In an anonymous letter sent to the Westgate Sentinel, a current Canada Post employee laid bare deep-seated grievances against the corporation's leadership.
"Canada Post is poorly managed, fiscally and organizationally," the employee wrote.
"Then they whine at the bargaining table that they’re broke. The employees and the union know the financials almost as well, and see the billions spent on infrastructure upgrades, new buildings, new fleet vehicles, management bonuses and signs telling employees that we’re heroes, or to ‘walk like a penguin.’ The incompetence at every level is staggering."
The letter also highlighted intensified tactics in this round of action, noting that "this time, the union members have also been asked to picket at the Purolator locations and stop competition vehicles for 5 minutes each."
Purolator, largely owned by Canada Post, has become a focal point in the dispute, underscoring workers' efforts to broaden the strike's impact.
Further stoking tensions, the employee echoed union suspicions of behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
"The union also expressed that the corporation is colluding with the government in what appears to be back room meetings, although they can’t prove it. But it’s suspicious that the government officials are making suggestions to Canada Post."
As the strike drags on, Canadians are feeling the pinch, with delayed bills, packages, and government cheques prompting calls for alternative arrangements. Critical services, such as benefit payments, are being prioritized through digital means or other channels under federal contingencies.
However, the standoff shows no immediate signs of resolution, leaving the future of Canada's postal service hanging in the balance amid calls for accountability and reform.