Industry Alert: Canada Post strike

Author: Monica Chrobak
  

 

Important Update: operations have resumed on December 17, 2024. For the latest information, please visit the Negotiations page on Canada Post’s website here.

 
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) went on strike on Friday November 15, 2024 after failing to reach an agreement with the Crown corporation. During the strike, mail and parcels have not been processed or delivered and post offices are closed. 
 

 

If you are US-based, but mail into Canada – this strike may still affect you!

Effective November 29, 2024, the US Postal Service temporarily suspended international mail acceptance into Canada.

The services affected include the following:  

  • Priority Mail Express International® (PMEI)
  • Priority Mail International® (PMI), First-Class Mail International® (FCMI)
  • First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS)
  • International Priority Airmail® (IPA)
  • International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL)
  • Commercial ePacket® (CeP)
  • M-Bag® items

This means any mail or shipments using these services will not be sent to Canada at the moment. Invoices from your business, letters, Christmas cards, holiday gifts – these will be caught in the backlog. Once the strike is resolved, customers should expect delays as the backlog is processed.

 

What can you do?

  • Stay up to date by following the Negotiations Update page on Canada Post’s website.
  • Utilize alternative carriers such as UPS or FedEx for shipping into Canada.
  • It also doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan for your invoices. By sending invoices digitally, you can ensure your customers receive them quickly and securely. With Quadient’s Impress, you can send invoices by mail or digitally – or both!
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