By Deena Newaz, Samuel Tetelepta
On the evening of December 3rd, 2024, Spring members visited the Albert Jackson Post Office Warehouse in Scarborough, Ontario, where members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have been holding 24/7 picket lines since November 15, 2024. The Albert Jackson Warehouse is just one among hundreds of CUPW picket lines across Canada, with an estimated 55,000 postal workers currently striking. During our visit, striking postal workers were huddled around fires in plummeting temperatures and harsh winds, fighting for decent work and the future of public services.
For many postal workers, this is not their first strike, and they understand what is at stake as they stand on the picket line during the busiest season of the year.
Postal workers are fighting for decent work for all
Postal workers are on strike not only for their immediate interests (fair wages that keep up with inflation, safe working conditions, and a good pension plan) but also to expand public postal services to serve Canadians better and against the “gigification” of public service jobs.
The employer, on the other hand, leveraging on its precarious financial situation ($3 billion loss since 2018), is offering the workers a mere 11.5% wage increase over four years (which, based on last year’s inflation rate of 3.9%, will have wages trailing inflation by the end of the contract) while proposing a series of concessions, including a decrease in employment benefits, a substandard pension plan for new employees, and to hire more part-time and contract workers to replace full-time opportunities. Essentially, Canada Post is punishing workers for the company’s financial troubles.
The workers, however, stated that it is the management’s fault that Canada Post is struggling financially. The Union has called out management’s poor investment decisions as the main factor contributing to Canada Post’s financial troubles. Canada Post’s five-year plan initially allocated $4 billion to upgrade infrastructure in response to the surge in parcel growth during the pandemic. However, even after the parcel numbers stopped growing, the company continued spending.
“See those new trucks over there?” asked a striking worker, gesturing to a row of parked Canada Post vehicles. “They’re just sitting there, unused.”
Canada Post’s plan to hire more part-time and contract workers instead of full-time employees signals a troubling shift towards “gigification.” This shift would transform public jobs into precarious jobs resembling the gig economy model seen with companies like Amazon.
“I have been working for Canada Post for twenty-three years,” said one senior worker. “I will be retiring soon, so I don’t really need to be here, but I’m here fighting for the newer workers. I want the new workers to have good jobs, with good benefits and pensions.”
“I have only been working here for two years, and this is my first strike,” said another worker. “I don’t know what to expect, but I know that the senior workers are striking for me, and I am striking for the future workers.”
We spoke to a group of Amazon workers who were there to show support for the striking postal workers. One of them mentioned, “When Amazon does their annual review of our wage rate, they explicitly say they aim to keep our wage competitive with employers in the same industry. When Canada Post workers win better wages and job conditions for themselves, it helps pull up standards for all workers in the logistics industry.”
Postal workers defend public services on multiple fronts
A key issue on the bargaining table is protecting defined benefit pensions, which guarantee a set income for retirees. Canada Post management is pushing to replace these pensions for new hires with defined contribution plans, where both the employee and employer contribute, but the final payout is uncertain. In addition, the employer’s push for a two-tier compensation system is seen as a strategy to divide workers and weaken the union. This tactic mirrors recent moves by other Crown corporations like the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and the public Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Additionally, casual and part-time work with unpredictable hours has grown across the public sector, which poses a major threat to job security for many workers, including postal workers.
The threat of instability was palpable on the picket line. One worker shared, “I drive up to two hours sometimes for a four-hour shift, then have to take on other jobs.” Many workers are juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet.
Some who already work as federal public servants during the day are picking up evening shifts at Canada Post just to afford a decent life. One public servant and striking postal worker remarked, “I was on strike last year at my other job, and now I’m here again,” highlighting the broader attack on public sector jobs and benefits. The fight against pension cuts has taken on new urgency after the Government of Canada recently raided surplus funds from the Federal Public Service Pension Plan, jeopardizing the retirement security of over 700,000 federal workers.
These stories challenge the common perception of public sector jobs as cushy with hefty pay and benefits. Conversations with striking postal workers reveal that the battles for fair work and robust public services are deeply connected. Attacking pensions, full-time jobs, and working conditions only weakens public services for everyone and will have a far-reaching impact on other public sector workers.
Public support and solidarity matters
Despite the biting cold weather and amid employer attacks (Canada Post started laying off striking employees at the two-week mark of the strikes, a legally-defined unfair labour practice), the workers at the picket lines showed strong determination to win. They actively engage with the public, holding picket signs that say, “Honk to support postal workers,” encouraging passing cars to show their support.
“Public support is very important for the striking workers’ morale,” said one of the workers. “When a driver toots the horn while driving by the picket and when a group like yours comes and brings us donuts, it tells us that there is public support, and it helps the morale.”
The workers also stated that the public must support their union because they are fighting for the future of Canada Post and all public services. “If Canada Post has to be privatized, it will be a huge loss, not only for the postal workers but for all Canadians,” stated a striking worker.
Our visit solidified that this fight is bigger than fair wages—it is about defending public sector jobs, good pensions, and rejecting the aggressive push towards precarious and casual work. If postal workers win, we can all win our fight for decent work and a life of dignity.
The union is asking Canadians to get involved in the fight by sending a letter to Doug Ettinger, CEO of Canada Post Corporation. They encourage everyone to print and display signs of support and to learn more about their proposals (all of which can be done by clicking here) and visit a picket line near you.
Justice for Workers has also published a set of tools to support postal workers.
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