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Global News
a day ago
- Business
- Global News
Canada Post strike ‘yo-yoing' has some businesses turning elsewhere: CFIB
As unionized postal workers vote on the latest and 'final' offers from Canada Post, it may be too little, too late for some businesses as a new survey suggests they are 'starting to leave for good.' The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released the results of a survey conducted through June and July of 2025 on how businesses have responded to the service disruptions at Canada Post amid the roughly 18 months of union negotiations and strike action. 'Yo-yoing in and out of strike mandates is causing Canada's small businesses — one of Canada Post's last groups of profitable customers — to leave for good,' said president Dan Kelly at the CFIB. 'Small business owners and other consumers need certainty. Thirteen per cent of small businesses permanently dropped usage of Canada Post during the 2024 strike and every time Canada Post goes on strike, more and more businesses leave forever.' Story continues below advertisement According to the report, the CFIB estimates the 2024 strike cost small businesses between $75 million and $100 million each day. Most businesses (71 per cent) responded to the disruptions by encouraging customers to use digital options, nearly half (45 per cent) turned to private couriers, while 27 per cent delayed mail. 'The number one thing we're hearing from business owners is that we have tons of uncertainty already with the Canada-U.S. trading relationship, and then if we add to that ongoing uncertainty with respect to whether or not the postal service is going to work, it's a huge impact,' says Kelly. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'There are lots of small businesses that are starting to leave for good.' 5:58 CUPW urges members to reject Canada Post contract vote Where do things stand? Members of Canada Post's largest union of postal workers are currently voting on the latest and 'final' offers from the Crown corporation, which could bring an end to the uncertainty. Story continues below advertisement Although the company has described these offers as 'final,' and a smaller union of postal workers ratified their own deal, the larger Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has urged members to vote against it. If the deal is rejected by the workers it could prolong the negotiations and strike action. The voting period for the approximately 53,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers kicked off on Monday and will end on Aug. 1, with the offers from Canada Post including a wage increase, a signing bonus, and maintaining a defined benefit pension and job security. CUPW said on Monday that 'Canada Post's offers fall short of what postal workers have rightfully earned. They ignore the day-to-day realities we face on the work floor, fail to meet our key bargaining demands, and aim to weaken the protections we've fought hard to secure.' 0:44 Canada Post reaches deal with CPAA, its 2nd largest union Canada Post has been struggling financially for several years, with a recent report by the Industrial Inquiry Commission saying the company was 'effectively insolvent' as it loses market share to competition from private companies, including UPS, FedEx and Amazon, among others. Story continues below advertisement The report by the IIC found Canada Post lost $748 million in 2023, a 26-per cent increase from the $548 million lost a year prior.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Our goal has never been a strike': Local Canada Post workers reeling from 2-year ‘mess'
As unionized workers once again vote on Canada Post's latest contract offer across the country, the president of Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) Local 730 in Alberta said his members are feeling 'pretty tired.' 'I mean, we've been doing this for two years … So everybody's pretty tired, but I think overall morale is still pretty good,' said James Ball. CUPW Local 730 represents about 2,700 of 55,000 unionized postal service workers ranging from Jasper east to Lloydminster and Lac La Biche south to Ponoka. The vote on a new contract began Monday and will be open to CUPW members until Aug. 1. Ball said the newest contract is the same offer as the one given to them by the Crown corporation back in November 2023. The offer includes wage hikes of about 13 per cent over four years. It also adds part-time workers Canada Post has said are necessary to keep the postal service alive. 'It's a mess,' Ball said. Recently, some CUPW negotiators have urged members to vote against the contract. Ball still said he sees a strike vote among his members as 'unlikely.' 'Our goal has always been to get a negotiated contract,' he said. 'Our goal has never been to strike.' A Canada Post spokesperson said the Crown corporation had operating losses amounting to $10 million a day through June, and in the event the vote is negative, the uncertainty will continue. In the meantime, though, Ball said many workers are refusing overtime until a negotiation is made. 'The only two pathways out of this are negotiation and arbitration … if they choose to lock us out, then they're just there to punish us for not giving them exactly what they wanted the whole time.' According to a survey released Monday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), a postal strike could push 63 per cent of businesses to walk away from Canada Post permanently. CFIB also said 70 per cent of businesses have encouraged customers to use digital methods, 45 per cent have switched to private couriers and 27 per cent delayed their mail altogether. With files from the Canadian Press, CTV News Edmonton's Darcy Seaton and
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Devil is in the details': Canada Post union negotiator urges members to vote against latest offer
CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant on why the union is encouraging worker to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer. As unionized workers at Canada Post begin voting on the Crown corporation's latest offer, one of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers' (CUPW) negotiators is urging members to vote against it, slamming Canada Post for trying to 'control people's lives.' Jim Gallant told CTV Your Morning in an interview Monday that despite the 18-month long negotiation, the latest offer is still not up to the mark, emphasizing 'the devil is in the details.' 'The wording that they have, and this language, just open a wide door that they could drive a motor home through to get what they want,' he said after reading through all the offer documents. Roughly 55,000 unionized Canada Post workers began voting on Monday, after the federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to intervene and put the latest offer to a vote. Meanwhile, Gallant describes the agreement as the opposite of flexible. 'They use the word 'flexibility', but this collective agreement is about control,' he said. 'They want to control people's lives, where you go to work for four hours and by the time you're at work you have to stay for eight hours.' CUPW, along with the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers and Urban Bargaining Committees, unanimously recommended that Canada Post's final offer be rejected, according a news release by the CUPW. 'These offers fall short of what we've earned, ignore the realities on the work floor, fail to address key demands, and threaten hard-won protections,' the news release said. 'Worse still, Canada Post—backed by the Government—is setting a dangerous precedent,' the press release added. 'From the start, management has shown little interest in fair negotiations. Instead, they're using this forced vote to sidestep bargaining and impose their terms without our consent.' The Crown corporation's offer includes a hike in wages of around 13 per cent over four years and adds part-time workers. Jon Hamilton, a Canada Post spokesperson, said the Crown corporation had operating losses amounting to $10 million a day through June, and in the event the vote is negative, the uncertainty will continue. According to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released on Monday, a postal strike could cause the corporation to permanently lose up to 63 per cent of businesses. 'Small business owners deserve a long-term plan and a postal service they can count on,' Corinne Pohlmann, executive vice-president of advocacy at CFIB said in the survey report. According to the CFIB, more than 70 per cent of businesses have encouraged customers to use digital methods, 45 per cent have put their faith in private couriers and 27 per cent delayed mail. 'People can't take care of their children or parents,' Gallant says. 'We need things so we have a reasonable day and know about that day before we show up.' With files from CTV News' Paul Hollingsworth and the Canadian Press
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Canada Post Your Morning chat
CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant on why the union is encouraging worker to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer. CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant on why the union is encouraging worker to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer. HL: Canada Post union negotiators urge members to vote against the latest offer from the Crown corporation HL: 'Devil is in the details': Canada Post union negotiators urge members to vote against the latest offer HL: 'They want to control people's lives': Canada Post union negotiators challenge the Crown corps latest offer GHL: Canada Post union negotiators urge members to vote no As unionized workers at Canada Post begin voting on the Crown corporation's latest offer, the president of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) is urging members to vote against it, slamming the corporation for trying to 'control people's lives.' Jim Gallant told CTV Your Morning in an interview Monday that despite the 18-month long negotiation, the latest offer is still not up to the mark, emphasizing 'the devil is in the details.' 'The wording that they have, and this language, just open a wide door that they could drive a motor home through to get what they want,' he said after reading through all the offer documents. Roughly 55,000 unionized Canada Post workers began voting on Monday, after the federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to intervene and put the latest offer to a vote. Meanwhile, Gallant describes the agreement as the opposite of flexible. 'They use the word 'flexibility', but this collective agreement is about control,' he said. 'They want to control people's lives, where you go to work for four hours and by the time you're at work you have to stay for eight hours.' CUPW, along with the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers and Urban Bargaining Committees, unanimously recommended that Canada Post's final offer be rejected, according a news release by the CUPW. 'These offers fall short of what we've earned, ignore the realities on the work floor, fail to address key demands, and threaten hard-won protections,' the news release said. 'Worse still, Canada Post—backed by the Government—is setting a dangerous precedent,' the press release added. 'From the start, management has shown little interest in fair negotiations. Instead, they're using this forced vote to sidestep bargaining and impose their terms without our consent.' The Crown corporation's offer includes a hike in wages of around 13 per cent over four years and adds part-time workers. Jon Hamilton, a Canada Post spokesperson, said the Crown corporation had operating losses amounting to $10 million a day through June, and in the event the vote is negative, the uncertainty will continue. According to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released on Monday, a postal strike could cause the corporation to permanently lose up to 63 per cent of businesses. 'Small business owners deserve a long-term plan and a postal service they can count on,' Corinne Pohlmann, executive vice-president of advocacy at CFIB said in the survey report. According to the CFIB, more than 70 per cent of businesses have encouraged customers to use digital methods, 45 per cent have put their faith in private couriers and 27 per cent delayed mail. 'People can't take care of their children or parents,' Gallant says. 'We need things so we have a reasonable day and know about that day before we show up.' With files from CTV News' Paul Hollingsworth and the Canadian Press
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
As the CUPW votes on new deal, businesses are already leaving Canada Post
As Canada Post employees vote on a proposed new contract, many businesses have already given up on the crown corporation following a pair of work stoppages. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which represents 55,000 Canada Post employees, is being forced to vote on a new deal despite not reaching an agreement in 18 months of negotiations. Canada Post has said its latest offer addresses employees' major concerns and builds on previous offers, though the CUPW says it 'outright ignored our positions' when it comes to the union's big concerns. These disruptions have taken a toll on Canadian businesses. In December, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses reported that the Canada Post strike was costing small- and medium-sized businesses about $76.6 million each day. Now, many are considering walking away from the service all together. The CFIB reported on Monday that 63 per cent of Canadian businesses are prepared to leave Canada Post permanently, and 13 per cent of small businesses already left the service during the 2024 strike. 'Yo-yoing in and out of strike mandates is causing Canada's small businesses — one of Canada Post's last groups of profitable customers — to leave for good,' said CFIB president Dan Kelly said in a news release. 'Small business owners and other consumers need certainty.' Currently, about 80 per cent of Canadian businesses use Canada Post for sending cheques and letter mail, according to the CFIB. When it comes to packages, Canada Post holds a much smaller market share, which has dropped from 63 per cent in 2019 to just 24 per cent today, according to the corporation's annual report. The CFIB data shows that 73 per cent of small businesses now rely on private couriers for package delivery. 'The current model at Canada Post is in dire need of massive reform,' Corinne Pohlmann, executive vice-president of advocacy at CFIB, said in the news release. 'It's long overdue for the federal government to implement the well-studied changes that have been required for over a decade. Small business owners deserve a long-term plan and a postal service they can count on.' While businesses might be prepared to walk away from Canada Post, individual Canadians appear willing to support it further. Canada Post to start voting on contract offer Canada Post reaches deal with second-largest union A recent poll from the Angus Reid Institute found that 61 per cent of Canadians would contribute a $20 annual subsidy to support Canada Post and its mandate of universal, cross-country service. 'Canadians do treasure their postal service, but at the same time, they are open to big changes,' Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, said last month. With files from Naimul Karim and Gigi Suhanic Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
