Canada Post Strike Union Meeting Ottawa: Rotating Strikes Update

The Canada Post strike has entered a new phase with rotating walkouts, leaving millions of Canadians uncertain about their mail. Here’s what’s actually happening to your mail — and what the rotating strike means for deliveries.

Union involved: Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) ·
Workers on strike: 55,000+ ·
Strike start: Late September 2025 ·
Meeting with minister: October 8, 2025 ·
Mail service: Delayed with rotating strikes

Here are the key facts about the strike at a glance.

Is the Canada Post strike still going on?

Yes, the Canada Post strike is ongoing as of October 2025. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) launched a full national strike on September 25, 2025, after the federal government announced changes to Canada Post’s mandate (Canada Post – Labour discussion updates). Canada Post said operations were shut down without warning that day. On October 8, federal jobs minister Patty Hajdu met with the union in Ottawa to urge a response to Canada Post’s latest offers (CityNews – Canada Post union set for meeting with Ottawa). Then on October 11, CUPW moved from a full national strike to rotating strikes effective 6:00 a.m. local time (Canada Post – Customers should expect delays as CUPW moves to rotating strikes).

The implication: The strike is not over — it has changed shape. Rotating walkouts allow the union to maintain pressure while reducing lost wages for its members, and Canada Post warns that customers should expect ongoing delays because the network remains unstable.

What does Canada Post rotating strikes mean?

Rotating strikes mean that groups of CUPW workers in different regions walk off the job on different days, rather than all members striking simultaneously across the country. Canada Post describes this as strike activity that “may be isolated to specific locations and affect those areas for a specified period of time” (Canada Post – rotating strikes). In unaffected areas, Canada Post says it will accept, process and deliver mail and parcels as usual (same source).

The catch: Rotating strikes reduce wage loss for workers because they only miss work on strike days, but the financial pressure on both sides remains a key driver in negotiations.

What do Canada Post workers get paid per hour?

Canada Post wages are a central issue in the strike. The average hourly wage for postal workers is approximately $20-$30 CAD, according to industry data. The starting wage for letter carriers is around $20 per hour, while top rates for experienced workers can exceed $30 per hour (Canada Post – Labour discussion updates). CUPW is negotiating for higher wages and better working conditions.

What is the starting wage for Canada Post workers?

• Starting hourly wage for letter carriers: approximately $20 CAD (Canada Post – Labour discussion updates)

What is the top hourly wage?

• Top hourly wage for experienced workers: over $30 CAD (same source)

The catch: Rotating strikes reduce wage loss for workers because they only miss work on strike days, but the financial pressure on both sides remains a key driver in negotiations.

Does Canada Post deliver mail while on strike?

During rotating strikes, some mail is delivered and some is delayed. Canada Post says that in areas not affected by a specific strike, it will continue to accept, process and deliver items (Canada Post – rotating strikes). However, once an item enters the network, it is secure but cannot be retrieved if a strike hits the facility where it’s being processed (same source).

What mail is delivered during the strike?

• Items processed in unaffected areas are delivered as usual (Canada Post)
• Date-specific Neighbourhood Mail is not available during the restart period (Canada Post)

What is delayed?

• Parcels and letters processed in strike-affected facilities are delayed until operations resume (Canada Post)
• On-time delivery guarantees for parcel services remain suspended (same source)

What this means: There’s no single answer — your mail’s fate depends on where you live and when the rotating strike hits your region.

Will you still get your mail and parcels during the Canada Post strike?

Yes, but with caveats. If your local facility is not on strike, delivery continues normally. If it is, your items will be delayed. Canada Post says items will be delivered as quickly as possible after a disruption ends and operations resume (Canada Post – rotating strikes).

How to check if your mail is affected

• Use Canada Post’s online tracking tool to check the status of your parcels (Canada Post – Labour discussion updates)
• Expect delays and avoid sending time-sensitive items during the strike

For consumers, the practical advice is clear: track your packages, allow extra time, and hold off on non-urgent mailings until the rotating strike stabilizes or ends.

The pattern: The strike has evolved quickly, with each phase bringing new disruptions and negotiation pressure.

What this means: The confirmed facts are well-sourced, but several critical details remain unknown, making it hard for consumers to plan.

“The federal government is urging the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to respond to Canada Post’s latest offers as the labour impasse continues.”

CityNews – Canada Post union set for meeting with Ottawa

“Canada Post said it would welcome CUPW-represented employees back on October 11 as the union moved to rotating strikes.”

Canada Post – Labour discussion updates

For Canada Post and CUPW, the rotating strike strategy is a high-stakes test of endurance. The federal government has a clear interest in a quick resolution before the holiday season, when mail volume spikes dramatically. For consumers, the choice is simple: track every parcel, expect delays, and consider alternatives for urgent shipments.

For ongoing developments in this dispute, check the latest Canada Post strike update today detailing rotating strikes and mail delays.

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