The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is currently in a difficult round of bargaining with Canada Post. Despite the Union’s efforts to resolve key issues, the parties are still far apart.
On May 19, 2025, CUPW issued 72-hour strike notice, and the union was in a legal strike position as of midnight on Friday, May 23 if no agreement was achieved by that time. Yesterday, CUPW advised their National Executive Board called for a nationwide overtime ban, effective May 23 at midnight in lieu of putting up picket lines. This decision was to minimize disruptions to the public and lost days to their members. Additional actions may take place in the future.
Should CUPW pickets go up, PSAC members are not in a legal strike position and must continue to report for duty. PSAC members are encouraged to support CUPW in their efforts for a fair collective agreement by participating on picket lines (on breaks or before/after shifts) and sending messages of support.
For our members who work at Canada Post, or work in buildings alongside CUPW members, a strike protocol has been developed. PSAC and CUPW have agreed to the following:
- PSAC members will not be impeded from accessing their workplaces in areas where CUPW has established picket lines.
- PSAC will counsel its members assigned to work at picketed sites to consider the viability of refusing unsafe work and to contact their supervisor and union representative rather than cross the line.
- CUPW picket captains/coordinators will specify the entry points for PSAC members to report to work. Members will identify themselves and their union to the designated CUPW representative.
- PSAC will encourage its members to express solidarity with CUPW by joining picket lines before or after their shifts and participating in other supportive initiatives as determined by local leadership from both unions.
- The national offices of both PSAC and CUPW will ensure this protocol is distributed to all local affiliates.
In the past, PSAC and CUPW have always supported each other in order to achieve fair collective agreements and we expect that all PSAC members will continue to show our solidarity in this current situation.