55,000 Canada Post workers strike over pay

About 55,000 Canada Post workers went on strike for the second time in six years after their union said it had failed to reach a pay deal with the postal operator in the run-up to the holiday season.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, who has twice this year moved to end work disputes in other sectors, made clear he was not considering another intervention for the time being.

The union is demanding wage increases in line with inflation, cost-of-living adjustment payments to be rolled into the basic wage rate, and safe working conditions. The union had issued a three-day strike notice earlier this week.

Separately, Canada Post said operations would shut down during the strike. If the strike drags on, it could boost business for private rivals United Parcel Service and FedEx.

"We've been without a contract since January of 2024, so it's coming up on a year and it's really on Canada Post to negotiate in good faith with us. This is the typical thing that they do every round of negotiations with us if they cry broke. And they're not broke. We have a, if you look over a year you see this almost a billion dollar plant that they made. They wrote that as a loss but that's actually investing into our future. So, investing in our future is great but invest in the workers who make the post office work," said Steward Reagan Johnston, Canada Post Albert processing center shop.

In November 2018, the Liberal government pushed through back-to-work legislation to end a month-long strike by Canada Post employees.

Earlier this week, the Liberal government ordered an end to disputes at Canada's two biggest ports and in August, it put an end to work stoppages at the two largest railway companies.

MacKinnon said that he had formally appointed a special mediator between Canada Post and the workers union.