Backlogs expected as Canada Post employees head back to work

Mail backlogs expected to take months to clear Canada Post workers have been ordered back to work, and it's expected to take several months to get the mail back on track.

Although Canada Post employees are back at work, operations are far from normal and delivery delays are expected into the new year.

Over the weekend, the Canada Industrial Relations Board determined negotiations between the Crown corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) were in a stalemate and ordered employees back to work under their existing contracts.

Those contracts have been extended until May to give both sides more time to talk.

Canada Post has agreed with the union to implement a five per cent wage increase retroactively to the day after the collective agreements expired.

Nathan Gareau from Calgary business Knifewear says the four-week strike forced the company to adjust holiday shipping.

"it's been really hectic," Gareau said. "We ship a lot of orders. We have a warehouse in Calgary and so, with our online business, it's been challenging to get orders out the door."

Gareau says though postal workers are back on the job, he won't be sending packages out via Canada Post just yet.

"We're continuing to ship exclusively with UPS, Purolator and DHL because we want to be certain that people's stuff is going to show up on time," he said. "We'll absolutely get back to shipping Canada Post in the new year."

"We're very happy that they're moving again," Gareau added. "Unfortunately, many of the most prepared Christmas shoppers are the ones getting punished; the folks who shopped in November are the ones whose packages haven't showed up yet.

"Customers in the US, in England, in Hong Kong are getting their orders way before anybody in Canada has."

Calgarian Brooklyn Billinghurst says she typically uses Canada Post during the holiday season.

"I have friends that live all over the world, like in the States and stuff, so I wasn't able to send them Christmas presents this year," she said. "It is a bummer."

"I tried looking at UPS and it was $85 shipping to send Christmas ornaments to the States… the prices are kind of ridiculous."

Canada Post declined a request for an interview.

In a news release, the organization asked Canadians for their patience.

"On a first-in, first-out basis, Canada Post will start working through the mail and parcels trapped in the system since the strike began on November 15, 2024."

Commercial volumes of shipments will not be accepted until Thursday, with delays expected on all deliveries throughout the remainder of the year and through January.

Canada Post says it will start accepting international mail on Dec. 23.