Canada Post Strike: Well, here we go again.
If you’re like me, you probably sighed when you heard the news: Canada Post has received another strike notice, and postal workers across the country are set to walk off the job this Friday, May 23. Another disruption.
Another round of frustration for the average Canadian trying to send a birthday card, receive a passport renewal, or keep their small business afloat with timely shipping.
We’ve seen this movie before. I still remember the five-week strike last fall, and how it threw everything into chaos right before the holidays. And now, here we are in the spring of 2025, watching history repeat itself.
To be clear, this isn’t just about delayed mail or late parcels. It’s about workers who feel they aren’t being heard, and a Crown corporation that’s been bleeding money for years.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has been raising valid concerns about job security, fair wages, safe working conditions, and the increasing reliance on precarious part-time roles. Meanwhile, Canada Post is pointing to a $3 billion operating loss since 2018 and the urgent need to modernize.
I get both sides. I really do.
Workers deserve better. No one should be scraping by in a full-time job while delivering Amazon boxes for a federal employer. At the same time, Canada Post is stuck trying to deliver daily mail in an age when most people don’t even send Christmas cards anymore.
The business model needs more than a fresh coat of paint—it needs a full renovation.
The federal government, as the owner of Canada Post, can’t keep kicking this can down the road. We’ve had reports. We’ve had commissions. We’ve had promises of reform. But we haven’t seen the kind of decisive action that says, “We’re serious about fixing this.”
As a small-town resident, I think about the seniors who still rely on letter mail, the local entrepreneurs who need reliable shipping, and the people who can’t afford to pay courier rates to send something to Vancouver. For many of us outside big urban centres, Canada Post isn’t optional—it’s essential.
What’s frustrating is that this doesn’t need to be a battle. It could be a turning point. A chance to reimagine what a national postal service should look like in 2025. One that’s financially stable, yes—but also fair, future-ready, and rooted in service to all Canadians, not just the bottom line.
We need leadership. We need innovation. And most of all, we need everyone at the table—government, management, and workers—to put their cards down and come up with a deal that reflects the real world we live in.
Because let’s face it: if this strike drags on again, we’re all the ones left holding the (empty) mailbox.
Here at The Golden Star, we’ll welcome our subscribers to once again pick up their paper at our office.
