Canada Post Workers Enact Nationwide Overtime Ban: What It Means for Parcel Shippers

As of May 23, 2025, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has initiated a nationwide overtime ban rather than a full strike. This move comes amid stalled contract negotiations with Canada Post and is designed to exert pressure without severely disrupting public services.

What’s Happening?

• CUPW members are now refusing to work beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, effectively limiting labor capacity across the Canada Post network.
• This replaces more aggressive strike actions that had been temporarily halted by a government order during late 2024.
• The union issued new strike notices on May 19, signaling their intent to resume pressure after failed negotiations.

🔗 Source – Reuters

Why the Dispute?

Talks between Canada Post and CUPW have hit a wall. The latest bargaining session lasted less than 30 minutes. Key unresolved issues include:

• Wage increases (CUPW is seeking a 19% raise over 4 years; Canada Post has offered ~13%)
• Cost-of-living adjustments
• Staffing shortages
• Proposed “dynamic routing” that would change delivery routes daily

🔗 Source – Castanet

Impact on Parcel Shippers

For parcel shippers and eCommerce businesses that rely on Canada Post, this development signals potential delays, especially for:

• Late-day pickups and deliveries
• Time-sensitive shipments
• Regions heavily reliant on overtime labor

While Canada Post has stated operations will continue, they’ve acknowledged that service delays are likely, particularly as volumes increase or overtime would normally be required.

🔗 Canada Post Official Statement

What Should Shippers Do?

• Plan ahead: Anticipate delays where overtime is typically used to clear high parcel volumes.
• Diversify carriers: Use regional or private carriers when possible to protect urgent delivery timelines.
• Communicate with customers: Transparency on potential delays helps manage expectations and maintain trust.

Stay Updated: Canada Post is maintaining a live updates page for ongoing negotiations and service impacts. 🔗 View latest updates

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