As a Federal Crown Corporation, Canada Post operates outside the standard democratic process, which gives the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) disproportionate leverage—not only over the Canada Post workforce, but also over the Canadian public.
Speaking from personal experience, friends who’ve worked at Canada Post were the first to tell me how out of touch CUPW has become. Many Canadians are now paying attention to the latest labour dispute, where Canada Post—an organization on the brink of bankruptcy—is simply asking for flexibility to modernize its operations. CUPW, however, is fighting to keep a business model rooted in the early 1980s, ignoring decades of innovation that have transformed the delivery industry and reduced costs for everyone.
Here’s CUPW’s official stance after rejecting Canada Post’s offer to let employees vote on a new deal:
“This refusal constitutes yet another demonstration that (Canada Post) is not interested in a reasonable outcome to this round of negotiation. A forced vote may fail to end the labour conflict and risks further division, prolonging uncertainty for all parties.”
— CUPW Statement, May 2025
Despite being in a legal strike position since May 23, CUPW has thus far opted for an overtime ban rather than a full strike.
Why Public Sector Unions Like CUPW Are Failing the Public Good
This situation underscores a broader concern: public sector unions like CUPW no longer serve the public interest. Canada Post was created for the benefit of all Canadians—not to function as a private fiefdom of one union. CUPW isn’t being asked to accept layoffs or mass firings. Canada Post is simply requesting operational flexibility to remain viable. Ironically, it’s CUPW itself that created a hostile, rigid work culture by resisting basic modernization efforts.
Most federal government employees in Canada already enjoy some of the best pay and benefits in the country. This has far more to do with voter apathy than with union advocacy. In the case of CUPW, the union’s combative stance reflects a broader truth: it’s no longer about protecting workers—it’s about preserving union power.
And unlike other public sector unions, CUPW has a major problem: competition. Canadians can—and do—compare Canada Post to modern delivery services like Amazon, which delivers to your door seven days a week, including weekends. Canada Post, by contrast, often resists this kind of service, largely because CUPW views expanded delivery hours as an excuse to extract more money from an already bankrupt system.
CUPW sees every Canada Post improvement as a threat—and tries to turn it into a bargaining chip. The reality, however, is that Canada Post has already borrowed money from the federal government just to meet payroll. In a private-sector context, the company would be forced to downsize or declare bankruptcy.
CUPW’s Dangerous Leverage Over Taxpayers
Here’s the disturbing part: CUPW frequently refers to Canada Post as a “corporation,” implying it’s profit-driven. But at the same time, they rely on federal bailouts funded by Canadian taxpayers to prop up their bargaining position. That’s not negotiation—it’s extortion.
Canada Post’s Crown Corporation status was granted on the premise that it serves the public good. But what CUPW’s leadership is doing undermines that mission entirely. This is why more Canadians are calling for privatization—not necessarily because they believe it’s the best solution, but because they feel they have no control over what happens with a public service they’re paying to keep alive.
Personally, I’m not in favor of full privatization. But I do believe the Canadian public should have the right to vote on the future of Canada Post. If taxpayers are expected to bail it out, then the national postal service should be part of the political process.
Lessons from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
You rarely hear about the USPS going on strike. Why? Because it operates within the democratic system, and its union knows that any misstep could trigger calls for privatization—especially since the USPS operates at a loss. Its union understands that too much noise could lead to drastic consequences.
Look at what happened with UPS: the workers negotiated a raise, but many were laid off shortly afterward. In contrast, Canada Post is offering CUPW guarantees that far exceed what’s found in the private sector, yet CUPW continues to resist any progress that might weaken its grip on relevance.
Final Thoughts on CUPW exploiting The Canadian Tax Payer
This battle isn’t just about mail delivery. It’s about whether public sector unions like CUPW can continue holding the Canadian public hostage, even as the world changes around them. Canada Post is trying to evolve, but CUPW would rather watch it collapse than lose control.
If this continues, it’s not just a Canada Post issue—it’s a national economic issue. And Canadians deserve a say in what happens next.