Canadian Union of Postal Workers rejects offers from Canada Post

By David Hartwig

A nationwide overtime ban of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers continues after union members voted to reject offers from Canada Post.

From July 21 to Aug. 1, more than 53,000 Canada Post employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers had the opportunity to vote on offers for collective agreements.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers announced Aug. 1 that 69.4 percent of the ballots cast by members of the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers unit opted to reject the offer, with 30.6 percent voting to accept the offer. The Urban unit voted similarly, with 68.5 percent of the voting members opting to reject the offer and 31.5 percent voting to accept.

In an Aug. 1 press release, Canada Post expressed disappointment with the results and said they are evaluating next steps.

“This result does not lessen the urgent need to modernize and protect this vital national service,” Canada Post said. “However, it does mean the uncertainty that has been significantly impacting our business – and the many Canadians and Canadian businesses who depend on Canada Post – will continue.”

In an Aug. 1 bulletin Canadian Union of Postal Workers president Jan Simpson said it’s time for Canada Post to “start seriously negotiating.”

“With these votes behind us, Canada Post must now recognize that the only way forward is to negotiate ratifiable collective agreements that meet postal workers’ needs,” Simpson said. “The time for games is over.”

Simpson says the union is calling on the government to prove to members that it respects the collective bargaining process. “If the Government truly respects unions and collective bargaining, it will keep out,” Simpson says. “No more back to work orders. No more forced votes.”

A strike of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in late 2024 ended when the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered Canadian Union of Postal Workers-represented employees back to work (Linn’s, Jan. 13, 2025, page 12).

After the 2024 strike, existing collective agreements between Canada Post and Canadian Union of Postal Workers extended to May 22. A nationwide overtime ban began one day after the agreements ended (Linn’s, June 16, 2025, page 3).

Canada Post requested May 30 that a vote take place on the final offers it presented to the union (Linn’s, June 30, 2025, page 9). The Minister of Jobs and Families approved the request June 12.

Canada Post provides details of its offers to the union online at canadapost.ca/offers, and provides negotiation updates online at www.canadapost.ca/update. The latest news from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers can be found online at www.cupw.ca/en/news---events.

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