Tensions Rise as Jobs Minister Meets Canada Post Union Over Overtime Ban and Weekend Work Dispute

National Times Bureau, May 30, 2025: Canada’s Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu met union leaders in Ottawa amid growing tensions between Canada Post and its workers. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has enforced a national overtime ban since May 23, following a formal strike notice on May 19. This action comes in response to Canada Post’s proposal to expand weekend parcel delivery using part-time staff—an idea the union sees as a direct threat to full-time jobs and long-term job security.

The government had already intervened once. The Canada Industrial Relations Board was asked to extend the current collective agreement until May 22 and to order workers back to their jobs temporarily. But tensions have remained high as mediated talks failed to produce any resolution. Each side blames the other for the breakdown in negotiations. Canada Post claims it must expand weekend services to remain competitive in the parcel delivery market. CUPW argues that this approach undermines established working conditions and risks casualizing the workforce.

To break the impasse, the federal government launched an industrial inquiry commission earlier this year. The commission’s mandate includes a review of Canada Post’s business model and labor practices. Its findings, expected by mid-May, are intended to provide recommendations for a longer-term solution.

Despite government involvement, CUPW has maintained its ban on overtime, highlighting how far apart the two sides remain. With no agreement in sight, both the union and the employer brace for deeper disruptions in service. The Minister’s recent meeting is viewed as a last-ditch effort to prevent escalation and protect essential postal services for Canadians.