Canada Post union campaign intends to make union matters a federal election issue. File Photo/CHAT News

By Jayk Sterkenburg

POSTAL STRIKE

‘Hands off my post office’: Canada Post union says citizens have a role in service

Apr 14, 2025 | 4:07 PM

A Canadian Union of Postal Workers president says the “Hands Off My Post Office” campaign is a way of telling Canadians that no matter who’s in government, they have a say in what’s going on with Canada Post.

Ross Tyrie-Horsfall, Lethbridge president of CUPW Local 770 and a coordinator for the campaign, said it was a response to the inquiry with the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

“Just to kind of offer that to Canadians to say, ‘Hey, you know what, you guys have a say in what’s happening. You guys have a say in Canada Post’,” Tyrie-Horsfall said.

A national Canada Post strike was paused in December 2024 for the Industrial Inquiry Commission to reach a resolution for unions, as the existing collective agreements were reinstated.

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Hearings have since wrapped up, and the commissioner will present a report and recommendations to Canada’s labour minister by May 15.

A labour disruption could happen as early as May 22, but no sooner, as collective agreements will remain in effect until at least that date.

Tyrie-Horsfall said the HOMPO campaign is being pushed by CUPW heading into the upcoming federal election, set to take place April 28.

Tyrie-Horsfall said the campaign is being pushed by CUPW heading into the upcoming federal election. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

Ross Naroznick, president of CUPW local 776, said the hope of the campaign is to push communities’ political representatives to make union matters an election issue.

He said the union is still waiting on an inquiry with the CIRB.

The union challenged the use of the federal government’s back-to-work order that led to a continuation of postal services in December.

“Canada Post, their whole thing is cutting back to sustainability instead of pushing forward and expanding into the future,” he said.

“With the government intervention, it’s kind of validating what they’re trying to do. Right now, they’re having to take a look at things, see where the viability is, if we could even be sustainable as a company, as an entity,” he added.

“Even though we’re supposed to be a public service, it’s not supposed to be about profit.”

Naroznick said Canada Post is supposed to be about providing service to the country.

He said one of the main things about being a letter carrier or doing mail delivery is developing relationships with customers on routes.

Naroznick said Canada Post is supposed to be about providing service to the country. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Canada Post and the union agreed to implement a five per cent wage increase, retroactive to the day after the collective agreements expired.

Key issues in the dispute include the size of wage increases and a push by Canada Post to expand delivery to the weekend.

The two sides have been at odds over how to staff the expansion.

Canada Post has pitched the expansion as a way to boost revenues and compete with other carriers. The corporation says it has been losing money for years.

It has said it would staff weekend delivery shifts with a mix of new permanent part-time positions and some full-time, creating flexibility but keeping costs down.

However, CUPW has characterized this as an attack on full-time work.

Naroznick said if Canada Post is changing routes, all the customer service disappears.

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READ: Workers issue strike notice to Canada Post

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He said CUPW sees the industrial inquiry as threatening to Canadian citizens, and the services the union provides through Canada Post.

“Canada Post is owned by the government as a crown corporation, and therefore owned by the Canadian citizen,” he said.

“If Canadians want a service that really offers a lot to them, then they have a say in that, and it can’t just be done behind closed doors with one single arbitrator making these decisions,” he added.

“Making these recommendations for whatever government of the day wants to do.”

Tyrie-Horsfall said it’s still unclear whether the strike will resume once May 22 arrives.

Canada Post service in Medicine Hat has been plagued by delays in recent months over labour shortages.