If you've been staring at an empty mailbox or refreshing a tracking page for weeks, I have some news.
The national Canada Post strike is officially suspended.
Honestly, it’s been a mess. After months of "will they or won't they" and a series of rotating walkouts that felt like they’d never end, Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) finally reached a tentative agreement on December 22, 2025.
Basically, the picket lines are gone for now. But "over" is a tricky word in the world of federal labour disputes. While the trucks are moving again, the situation isn't exactly back to business as usual just yet.
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The Short Answer: Is the Canada Post Strike Over?
Yes, the active strike is over because both sides have signed off on an "agreement in principle."
This means the union has paused all strike activity—including those annoying rotating walkouts—while their members take a look at the deal. Thousands of postal workers are back on the job, and mail is actually being sorted as we speak.
But here’s the thing: the deal isn't "final-final" until the members vote on it. That ratification process is scheduled to wrap up in late January 2026. If the workers say "no," we could be right back where we started. But for now? The strike is on ice.
What’s actually in the new deal?
It took a long time to get here. We’re talking about two years of bickering over wages and how the post office actually functions in a world where nobody sends letters but everyone buys stuff on Amazon.
The tentative agreement covers a lot of ground:
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- Wages: Workers are looking at a 6.5% bump in the first year (which includes some back pay) and 3% in the second. After that, raises are tied to the Consumer Price Index.
- Weekends: This was a huge sticking point. Canada Post is moving toward a new model to support weekend parcel delivery. If they want to compete with UPS or FedEx, they kinda had to do this.
- Pensions: The defined benefit pension plan—a "hill to die on" for the union—stays exactly as it was. No changes there.
- Job Security: Protections remain for urban workers and actually got a bit stronger for rural and suburban carriers (RSMCs).
Why your mail might still be late
Just because the strike is over doesn't mean your package is going to teleport to your front door tomorrow.
Backlogs are real. When a national mail system stops for even a few days, the "clog" in the pipe takes weeks to clear. Canada Post has warned that service guarantees are still a bit shaky as they work through the mountain of mail that piled up during the November and December disruptions.
I’ve talked to small business owners who literally stopped using Canada Post in 2025 because they couldn't risk the holiday rush. Switching carriers is a massive headache. If you're waiting on a cheque or a passport, give it another week before you start panicking. The system is still "burping" from the shutdown.
The Financial Mess Behind the Scenes
You've probably heard that Canada Post isn't doing great. They reported a massive $541-million loss in the third quarter of 2025 alone. That is a staggering amount of money to lose.
The corporation is basically in a fight for its life. On one side, you have the union trying to protect good-paying, stable jobs. On the other, you have a Crown corporation that is bleeding cash because letter mail is dying and parcel competition is cutthroat.
This new five-year agreement (which runs until January 31, 2029) is supposed to provide some stability, but it doesn't magically fix the fact that the business model is struggling.
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Real-world impact for you
If you're an everyday Canadian, here is what this status update actually means for your life:
- P.O. Boxes: Service has resumed. If you have a box in a remote area where Canada Post is the only option, you should see mail flowing again.
- Government Cheques: If you aren't on direct deposit, your cheques are back in the regular mail stream. However, Service Canada is still telling people to use online accounts whenever possible just in case things get weird again.
- Shipping Rates: With these wage increases, expect shipping costs to go up. It’s the law of gravity in business—someone has to pay for those raises, and it's usually the person buying the postage.
What happens if the workers vote "No"?
It’s a possibility. Sometimes the union leadership likes a deal but the "rank and file" members think they can get more. If the ratification vote fails in late January, the strike mandate could be reactivated.
However, most experts think this deal will pass. After a long winter of strikes and lost wages, most postal workers are ready to lock in these gains and get back to a regular schedule.
Actionable Steps for Now
Don't just wait by the mailbox. Here is what you should do to handle the tail end of this disruption:
- Check Local Service Alerts: Canada Post updates their "Service Alerts" page daily. If there’s a localized issue (like a blizzard or a specific facility backlog), it’ll be listed there.
- Stick to Direct Deposit: If the 2025 strike taught us anything, it’s that paper cheques are a liability. Switch your CRA and Service Canada accounts to direct deposit now so you aren't sweating the next time a contract expires.
- Vary Your Carriers: If you run a business, don't put all your eggs in the Canada Post basket. Use the current "peace time" to set up accounts with alternative shippers so you have a backup plan ready to go.
- Track Everything: Registered mail and tracked parcels are being prioritized over unaddressed flyers and standard letters. If it’s important, pay for the tracking.
The 2025-2026 labour dispute was one for the history books—long, bitter, and expensive. While the strike is over for the moment, the post office is still in the middle of a huge transformation that will change how we get our mail for the next decade.