How the CUPW strike affects your business

On November 15, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) began a national strike, resulting in a complete shutdown of Canada Post operations. No mail or parcels will be processed or delivered for the duration of the strike. While negotiations are ongoing, there is no clear end date in sight. If you’re concerned about how this may affect your peak-season shipping plans, keep reading to learn more and prevent further delays.

Who is impacted by the CUPW strike?

The strike notice is specific to Canada Post and affects all postage and parcels traveling through this carrier in urban, rural, and suburban areas around Canada. Packages already in transit through Canada Post will be delayed until the strike is resolved. Carriers using Canada Post for last-mile delivery are also impacted.

Holiday season shipping disruptions

While both parties have expressed interest in resolving the dispute, there is currently no definite end to the strike at this time. Delays may continue even after the strike ends as Canada Post works to catch up with the backlog. As a result, your holiday shipping schedule may be disrupted if proactive measures to avoid delays are not taken.

I need to ship something before the holidays—what can I do?

Let’s say you run a T-shirt business and need to ship a batch of customized crew necks to a women’s chorus in Winnipeg ASAP. But, your go-to Canadian carrier is Canada Post. Thankfully, ShippingEasy allows you to connect to multiple carriers that do not rely on Canada Post for last-mile delivery, offering competitive rates, so your shipment gets to the right place. For additional guidance, our support team is available to help customers navigate our carrier selection.

Are there any rate changes due to the strike?

At this time, any rate increases you may experience are not directly related to the strike itself. However, due to higher demand for other carriers during disruptions, rates may fluctuate based on carrier availability on top of regular seasonal demand.

Where can I get updates on the CUPW strike?

The ShippingEasy support team is available to provide updated information as the situation evolves. For more updates, keep a close eye on Canada Post’s negotiations updates for the latest information.

Camille Sauers is a multipurpose writer specializing in telling good stories.