Canada Post Strike Set to End Tuesday After Labour Board Order
Canada Post announced that postal operations will resume on Tuesday following an order from the Federal Labour Relations Board requiring postal workers to return to work.
“After two days of hearings, the CIRB has issued its ruling confirming the parties are at an impasse,” Canada Post said in a statement Sunday night.
“As a result, the CIRB has ordered employees to return to work, with postal operations resuming at 8 a.m. local time on December 17, 2024.”
Postal services will remain closed on Monday, marking the 32nd day of the strike.
Canada Post expressed eagerness to welcome employees back and continue serving Canadians and businesses. Further details about the service resumption will be shared on Monday.
Reevaluating Canada Post’s Status: A Call for Nationalization
Canada Post’s current status as a Crown Corporation poses significant challenges. A key issue is its exclusion from the electoral process, allowing the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) to exercise disproportionate influence. This has led to repeated instances of aggressive bargaining tactics aimed at securing favorable terms, often at the expense of operational profitability.
Historically, Canada Post has struggled with profitability, partly due to limited flexibility in adjusting prices. Whenever rates increase, CUPW demands higher wages and ensures that even future part-time employees receive benefits comparable to full-time workers. This approach undermines efforts to make Canada Post financially sustainable.
CUPW’s position appears to reflect a belief that they should control aspects of a public service, which raises concerns about accountability. Since Canada Post serves the public, voters should have a voice in decisions that affect its operations.
Privatization is not the answer. Instead, Canada Post should be fully nationalized and stripped of its Crown Corporation status. This change would ensure greater public oversight, balancing the needs of workers, businesses, and citizens alike.
The Case for Nationalizing Canada Post: Lessons from Ontario’s Teachers’ Unions
For those skeptical of this perspective, consider the trajectory of teachers’ unions in Ontario. At one point, public support for teachers was strong. However, as voters became aware of increasingly unreasonable union demands, public sentiment shifted. While teachers still have the right to strike, public backing has diminished. If teachers are unhappy with their pay or working conditions, they now face two choices: continue working or leave the profession.
Similarly, Canada Post is not a private business. Yet, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) expects taxpayers to fund its operations regardless of profitability. If taxpayers are footing the bill, they deserve a voice in how Canada Post is run. This includes allowing the Prime Minister or relevant government officials to hold management and workers accountable based on performance, profitability, and public interest.
Privatization is not a viable option due to Canada’s unique geography. Unlike Germany, which is smaller than Alberta and has a much larger population, Canada has vast, remote regions that private couriers are unwilling to serve without imposing steep delivery fees. This makes Canada Post an essential public service.
Nationalization, rather than privatization, offers a sustainable path forward. The current Crown Corporation model has proven incompatible with Canada Post’s public service mandate. CUPW has exploited the structure by striking during the company’s most critical revenue-generating periods, disrupting service meant for the public it claims to serve. This practice must end.
Stripping Canada Post of its Crown Corporation status and making it a fully nationalized service would restore accountability, ensuring that public interests remain the priority. This would allow Canada Post to operate efficiently while serving Canadians equitably across the country.