syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses des postes

Canada Post Workers’ Union Recommends Acceptance of New Collective Agreements After Years of Tense Negotiations

After months of intense negotiations, public pressure, and growing concerns over job security and service delivery, Canada Post and the Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses des postes (STTP)—also known as the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)—have reached tentative collective agreements for both urban and rural postal workers. The STTP’s national executive council has officially recommended that its approximately 55,000 members accept these proposed deals, marking a pivotal moment in one of Canada’s most essential public services.

This development comes after years of strained labour relations, threatened strikes, and government intervention, all set against a backdrop of declining mail volumes, digital disruption, and shifting expectations around postal services. For Canadians who rely on timely mail delivery—from seniors receiving pensions to small businesses shipping products—the resolution offers much-needed stability.

Recent Updates: A Timeline of Key Developments

The path to these agreements has been anything but smooth. Here’s a chronological breakdown of the most recent and verified developments:

• December 22, 2025: Canada Post and the STTP jointly announced they had concluded projects of collective agreements covering both the urban unit (mail carriers, clerks, and technicians in cities) and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers (RSMC) unit. These agreements are set to remain in effect until January 31, 2029, providing a four-year framework for labour relations.

• Same day: The STTP’s national executive council issued an official recommendation urging members to vote in favor of the proposed contracts. According to Radio-Canada, this endorsement followed extensive internal consultations and analysis of the terms.

• Earlier in December 2025: La Presse reported that the two sides had successfully concluded negotiations, avoiding what many feared could have been a nationwide strike—the first since 2018. The agreements include wage increases, improved benefits, and clearer language around workload distribution and job classification.

• Prior to the deal: There were conflicting signals from the union. Some internal communications suggested resistance to earlier offers, with calls for members to reject what was deemed “inadequate” compensation and protections. However, the final proposal appears to have addressed key concerns, leading to the current recommendation.

All major Canadian news outlets—including Radio-Canada, La Presse, and CUPW’s own communications—confirm the existence and broad outlines of these agreements. While full contract details have not yet been made public, summaries released by the union indicate significant improvements over previous offers.

Contextual Background: Why This Matters

To understand the significance of this agreement, it’s important to recognize the broader challenges facing Canada Post and its workforce.

Canada Post is a Crown corporation and a critical piece of national infrastructure. It delivers over 7 billion pieces of mail annually and serves every household and business in the country—including remote and Indigenous communities where private couriers often don’t operate. Yet, since the early 2000s, traditional letter mail has declined by more than 60%, driven by email, online billing, and digital communication.

This decline has forced Canada Post to adapt. The organization has pivoted toward parcel delivery, fueled by the e-commerce boom. In 2023 alone, parcel volume increased by nearly 15%, reflecting Canadians’ growing reliance on online shopping. However, this shift has also intensified workloads for postal workers, especially during peak seasons like Black Friday and the winter holidays.

Meanwhile, the STTP—representing nearly all non-managerial Canada Post employees—has long advocated for fair wages, safe working conditions, and protection against automation and outsourcing. The union has a history of militancy, including rotating strikes in 2011 and a full national strike in 2018 that disrupted mail service for weeks.

In recent years, tensions escalated further when the federal government signaled plans to phase out door-to-door mail delivery in urban areas and close select post offices—a move criticized by the union as an attack on universal service and worker rights. Although those specific plans were paused, they underscored the existential pressures facing the postal service.

Against this backdrop, the new collective agreements represent not just a labour settlement, but a potential turning point in how Canada views its public postal system.

Immediate Effects: What Changes for Workers and Customers?

While the full text of the agreements remains under wraps pending ratification votes, available summaries point to several concrete improvements:

• Wage Increases: Both urban and rural workers will receive phased wage hikes over the life of the contract. For RSMCs—who are classified as independent contractors rather than employees—this includes movement toward greater employment security and access to benefits previously reserved for full-time staff.

• Workload Protections: New language addresses concerns about excessive overtime and unpredictable scheduling, particularly for rural carriers who often work long hours with little flexibility.

• Health and Safety: Enhanced protocols for workplace safety, including better support for mental health and ergonomic assessments in mail processing plants.

• Job Security Clauses: Provisions aimed at limiting subcontracting and protecting full-time positions amid ongoing operational changes.

For customers, the immediate benefit is continuity. With a ratified agreement, Canadians can expect reliable mail and parcel delivery without the threat of service interruptions. Small businesses, in particular, rely on predictable shipping timelines, and any disruption can have cascading economic effects.

Moreover, the resolution avoids costly government intervention. During the 2018 dispute, Parliament passed back-to-work legislation, a move that drew criticism for undermining collective bargaining rights. This time, both parties reached consensus without legislative interference—a sign of mature industrial relations.

Future Outlook: Stability, But Challenges Remain

With contracts now in place until 2029, Canada Post and its workforce enter a period of relative calm. However, long-term challenges persist.

The corporation continues to grapple with financial pressures. Despite strong parcel revenues, Canada Post reported a net loss of $748 million in 2023, attributed to pension obligations, infrastructure costs, and declining letter mail. Modernization efforts—including automation in sorting facilities and route optimization software—are underway, but they raise valid concerns about job displacement.

The STTP will need to balance member protections with the reality of a transforming industry. As one union representative noted in a year-end message: “This year has not been easy, marked by major challenges, arduous negotiations, and constant pressures on the public postal service.” Their ability to adapt while defending worker interests will be crucial.

From a policy perspective, the federal government faces a strategic decision: treat Canada Post as a profitable enterprise or reaffirm its role as a public good. Universal service—delivering mail to every Canadian, regardless of location—is expensive. Without ongoing public support, rural and remote communities risk being left behind.

There’s also the question of innovation. Could Canada Post expand into new services—like banking for the unbanked, digital identity verification, or last-mile delivery for healthcare supplies—to ensure its relevance? Other postal services worldwide, such as Australia Post and Deutsche Post, have successfully diversified. Canada may need to follow suit.

Finally, the ratification votes themselves are not guaranteed. Union members will have the final say, and past contracts have been rejected despite leadership recommendations. If members vote “no,” negotiations could restart—or worse, trigger job action. But given the union’s current endorsement and the four-year horizon, most analysts expect approval.

Conclusion: A Hard-Won Victory for Public Service

The tentative agreements between Canada Post and the STTP represent a hard-won victory for labour peace and public service continuity. After years of uncertainty, both sides have chosen dialogue over disruption, compromise over conflict.

For the 55,000 postal workers who keep Canada connected—whether delivering medicine to a remote First Nations community or ensuring a small business’s holiday orders arrive on time—this deal offers dignity, security, and recognition. For Canadians, it means one less worry in an increasingly unpredictable world.

As the ratification process unfolds in early 2026, all eyes will be on the mailboxes, the sorting plants, and the rural routes that define this national institution. One thing is clear: the post office isn’t just about mail. It’s about trust, access, and the promise that no Canadian is ever truly out of reach.

Sources: Radio-Canada, La Presse, Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW/STTP), verified news reports as of December 2025.