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2018 Canada Post strikes
DateOctober 22, 2018 (2018-10-22)–November 27, 2018 (2018-11-27)
Location
Canada
GoalsWage increases, job security and minimum guaranteed hours
MethodsRotating strikes
Resulted inWorkers being legislated back to work
Parties

The 2018 Canada Post strikes were a series of rotating strikes, which began on October 22, 2018,[1] against Canada Post by members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Strikers sought "better pay, more job security and minimum guaranteed hours." On November 24, 2018, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government passed Bill C-89, which ended the strike three days later, and mandated the postal workers return to work.[2] CUPW members continued to work without a contract until September 2021, when they ratified a two-year agreement.[3]

Background

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Between 1965 and 2005, there were 19 strikes at Canada Post.[4] Strikes were ended through legislation in 1987, 1991 and 1997.[4]

In 2007, letter mail started to decline in popularity in Canada. Having posted its first loss in 17 years, Canada Post began its transition to parcel shipments in 2011, which were on the rise due to the popularity of e-commerce. As Canada Post spends about 41% more on its labour force than its private competitors and has a mandate to ship everywhere in Canada, this placed downwards pressure on workers in order for Canada Post to remain competitive. Meanwhile, CUPW faced new challenges with less leverage operating in a new industry where Canada Post does not hold a monopoly.[5]

A 2011 labour dispute between Canada Post and CUPW resulted in a two-week lock-out. This lead to the Conservative government of the time passing a bill to legislate CUPW members back to work. CUPW challenged the constitutionality of the bill in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, which ultimately found it to be unconstitutional.[4][6]

Timeline

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In a public statement published on October 16, 2018, and following 10 months of negotiations, CUPW negotiators announced that the National Executive Board issued a 72-hour notice to Canada Post that CUPW members would go on strike if they could not reach a negotiated settlement.[7] Among their demands were:

  • Wage increases above the inflation rate
  • Improved job security[7]
  • Minimum guaranteed hours[2]
  • Improved working conditions, particularly with respect to parcel delivery[1]

Before the rotating strikes began, CUPW imposed a ban on overtime work, keeping employees working their normal schedule. As Canada Post relies heavily on overtime, this action alone caused a significant backlog, the size of which is disputed by CUPW and Canada Post.[2]

As negotiators were unable to come to an agreement in time for the deadline imposed by CUPW, on October 22, 2018, Canada Post workers in Victoria, Edmonton, Windsor and Halifax went on strike for 24 hours, starting the first strike rotation. The following day, nearly 9000 Canada Post workers in the Greater Toronto Area would follow, starting the second rotation. CUPW stated that more strikes would follow daily at the discretion of the union's senior leadership,[1] however, the locations and intensity would depend on how negotiations proceeded with Canada Post.[7]

CUPW stated their motivation for choosing to organize rotating strikes was to minimize disruption to customers. During each rotation, no mail or parcels would be delivered in the relevant region while the strike was active.[1]

Postal Services Resumption and Continuation Act
Parliament of Canada
  • An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of postal services
CitationS.C. 2018, c. 25[8]
Considered byHouse of Commons of Canada
Considered bySenate of Canada
Royal assent2018-11-26
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Commons of Canada
Bill citationBill C-89
Introduced byPatty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
First reading2018-11-26[8]
Second reading2018-11-26[8]
Committee of the Whole2018-11-24[8]
Third reading2018-11-24[8]
Second chamber: Senate of Canada
Member(s) in chargeMike Duffy[9]
First reading2018-11-26[8]
Second reading2018-11-26[8]
Third reading2018-11-26[8]
Passed2018-11-26[8]
Status: In force

One month later, on November 23, 2018, the federal government passed Bill C-89, the Postal Services Resumption and Continuation Act (French: Loi sur la reprise et le maintien des services postaux),[8] ordering members of CUPW back to work. The bill went into effect on November 27, 2018. After C-89 was passed, Canada Post agreed not to enact a clause in the existing collective agreement with CUPW allowing Canada Post to mandate postal workers work overtime.[2]

On December 11, 2018, CUPW announced it would challenge the constitutionality of Bill C-89 in the Ontario Superior Court.[10] CUPW argued that Bill C-89 violated their rights to collective bargaining under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and was motivated by a "false emergency" created by Canada Post regarding the backlog that started to grow when CUPW first banned overtime work.[6]

In December, 2018, a mediator was appointed by the government to oversee negotiations between Canada Post and CUPW. Negotiations continued for another year, when a second arbitration extension was requested on November 18, 2019.[2]

In September, 2021, CUPW voted to ratify a two-year renewal agreement, which would remain in effect until December 31, 2023 for rural workers and January 31, 2024 for urban workers.[3] The new agreement included:

  • A 2% annual increase in wages plus a one-time lump sum payment to workers
  • Moving rural workers to hourly pay
  • A continued suspension of the contract clause allowing Canada Post to mandate overtime work until January 1, 2024.[3]

On July 25, 2024, four years after the case was first filed, the Ontario Superior Court dismissed CUPW's case regarding the constitutionality of Bill C-89, arguing it was no longer relevant. CUPW has stated it would appeal the decision.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Dangerfield, Katie (October 22, 2018). "Canada Post's rotating strikes: Everything you need to know about it". Global News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sciarpelleti, Laura (December 17, 2019). "Canada Post workers still without new contract 1 year after back-to-work bill passed". CBC. Archived from the original on April 19, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "CUPW members ratify two-year renewal agreements". Canada Post. September 8, 2021. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "A look at Canada Post's history of strikes, lockouts and a few quiet contracts". Financial Post. November 23, 2018. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  5. ^ Bickis, Ian (November 21, 2018). "'Canada Post is dying before our eyes': Strike exposes how postal service has changed in online era". Financial Post. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Dangerfield, Katie (December 11, 2018). "Canada Post union files court challenge over feds' back-to-work legislation". Global News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c "CUPW Issues 72-Hour Strike Notices". CUPW. October 16, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "C-89 (42-1) - LEGISinfo - Parliament of Canada". www.parl.ca. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  9. ^ Furey (November 26, 2018). "Monday, November 26, 2018". Senate of Canada. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  10. ^ "CUPW Challenges Back to Work Legislation in Court". CUPW. December 11, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  11. ^ "Judge Dismisses CUPW Constitutional Challenge Case Regarding 2018 Back-to-Work Legislation". CUPW. July 25, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
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