Canada Post has resumed normal operations after a month-long strike, but mail delays are expected to continue until late 2024 and January 2025. The postal service stated that it will take time for the national logistics network to stabilize and that it will prioritize the processing of backlogged mail.
Employees returned to work on Tuesday, December 17, to process the accumulated mail and accept new shipments, while commercial mail acceptance resumed on Thursday, December 19. Small business customers can now send parcels at any post office, and new international mail acceptance began on Monday, December 23.
Despite the resumption of services, the strike has already impacted the retail industry. Matt Poirier, vice president of the Canadian Retail Federation, commented, “The holiday shopping season sales have not been as strong as expected,” and added, “The retail industry has missed out on the most important sales period due to this strike.”
Other carriers, such as FedEx, had imposed small-scale shipment restrictions due to the surge in volume during the strike. However, they have now lifted these restrictions and introduced additional overnight logistics operations.
The strike ended after the Canadian Industrial Investigation Board intervened to mediate, citing a deadlock in labour-management negotiations. The union and Canada Post had failed to narrow their differences over wage increases and additional weekend work. The government plans to reach a new deal through the Industrial Investigation Board by May 15, 2025, and the existing contract has been extended until May 22, 2025.