Postal workers halt flyer delivery to pressure Canada Post in contract dispute

Postal workers began a ban on delivering unaddressed flyers as of midnight Monday, part of escalating job action amid stalled contract negotiations.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says the move is intended to pressure Canada Post to return to the bargaining table, claiming management has stepped away from talks.

“We don’t want to see this drag on any further or have the risk of this spilling over into the holidays,” said Brianna Solberg, CFIB Director for the Prairies and Northern Canada.

The labour dispute between Canada Post and its workers has entered a new phase, with both sides taking steps that could affect Canadians in the weeks ahead.
“We spent the last three weeks waiting for them since we gave them an offer, and there’s no movement, so we are trying to pressure Canada Post and the federal government to get them back to the table,” said Jim Gallant, Chief Negotiator, CUPW.

Canada Post responded by halting acceptance of flyer mail at all of its facilities, saying trucks dropping off those items will now be turned away. The company CALLED the union’s action “disappointing”, warning that it impacts small businesses and postal employees who rely on flyer delivery for extra income.

“When we announced our switch on Friday, the only response we received from the federal mediators and their question was all flyers or just some of them, not that we will meet you at the table,” said Gallant.

“Local restaurants to local retailers use flyers to promote themselves, and so stopping that service will be a huge blow to small businesses,” said Solberg.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says about one in five small businesses uses flyers, and some are already calling with concerns that their marketing campaigns could be disrupted

“The risk is there that if we see this continue, we could see strike action into the holiday season, and should we see another strike action, two-thirds of our members say that they would pivot away from Canada Post and likely not return,” said Solberg.

The union has also lifted a national overtime ban and says they will be staging rallies outside Members of Parliament’s offices, in hopes of adding pressure on Ottawa as Parliament resumes. Talks between the two sides remain stalled, with no new bargaining sessions scheduled.