Canada Post employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are deploying rotating strikes as the holiday delivery rush approaches, a move that could spark another disruptive peak season for unprepared shippers.
Workers for the government-owned carrier were on a national strike during last year's holiday season as negotiations for new labor contracts stalled, shutting down Canada Post operations and spurring delivery delays. The contract dispute has continued in 2025, leading to periods of an employee overtime ban, a stoppage in delivering unaddressed direct mail and another nationwide strike.
Last month, CUPW rolled back the full strike in favor of rotating work stoppages, which prevent mail and parcels from being picked up or delivered in affected areas. As of Tuesday, strikes are active in the Ontario communities of London and Cobourg, according to the carrier. Eighteen other locations have experienced rotating strikes since they began Oct. 11.
"Once the strike is over in a given location, the delivery of mail and parcels will restart as quickly as possible once operations resume," Canada Post said.
Employees are also not processing or delivering unaddressed advertising mail in the Ontario and Quebec regions, excluding certain areas, CUPW National President Jan Simpson said Monday. As the rotating stoppages continue, she added that CUPW's ultimate goal is "to secure ratifiable collective agreements" in ongoing contract negotiations
Navigating Canada Post stoppages
Shipments in Canada Post's network are currently moving without any noticeable issues, but as the peak season ramps up, "any delays due to rolling strikes may be more notable," said Alison Layfield, VP of product development at ePost Global, in an email.
The rotating strikes could prove difficult for shippers to prepare for, as CUPW won't announce strike locations, dates or durations in advance, Simpson said in an Oct. 14 bulletin. However, the actions’ impact is expected to be less disruptive than the national strike CUPW deployed earlier this year and during the 2024 peak season.
"Rotating strikes may slightly delay the mail and parcels, but they keep them moving," Simpson said. "They also reduce hardship on postal workers, while maintaining pressure on Canada Post and the Government to get back to bargaining."
Canada Post shippers should prioritize clear messaging to customers to ensure they are aware of any potential delays as the strike actions continue, Imtiaz Kermali, VP of sales and marketing at eShipper, said in an interview. Businesses can also offer shoppers the option to upgrade their shipping method to a faster offering, like an express service, he added.
"People want to know what's going on, even if they're not going to get the delivery in time, at least let them know where it is, what the issues are," Kermali said.
Using other delivery providers
Tapping alternative carriers will also be a critical safety valve for Canada Post-reliant shippers, according to experts. Many businesses have diverted some of their volume to other carriers like UPS and FedEx to limit the risk of disruption during the labor disputes, a practice that could be even more important during the holidays.
"Everybody, whether Canada Post was on strike or not, has some level of congestion issues when it comes to the peak season," Kermali said. "So regardless of strike or no strike, you always need to have other options available."
UPS confirmed on its website that it's encountering higher volume levels in Canada amid the turmoil. As a result, UPS has suspended service refunds on all eligible Canada domestic and import offerings while extending its delivery time commitments for seven services. However, the company added that it is ready to maintain on-time service for current shippers as it did during the 2024 Canada Post strike.
"During this time of uncertainty, UPS Canada is committed to serve our existing customers and their existing volume," the carrier said. "Our network is primed and ready for increased volume and to support the logistics needs of businesses and consumers in Canada and around the globe."
FedEx also said it is prioritizing reliability for customers in Canada, with the carrier noting on its website that it has "measures in place to manage increased shipping volumes and maintain consistent service across our network." FedEx didn't provide specifics on what measures it is deploying.
Canada Post is still an important option for shippers despite the disruptions, experts noted, as the carrier delivers to PO boxes and far-flung rural addresses other providers may not cover. However, shippers should be particularly mindful of their carrier mix in larger markets, as CUPW could opt to focus their rotating strikes in high-volume metro areas, John McClymont, principal of supply chain consultancy Operational Innovations, said in an email.
"Solid local delivery partners in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver are essential," he added.
