What does this mean for letters to Santa?

As the Canada Post strike enters its second week, the Crown Corporation says it’s down 10 million parcels with Black Friday and the holidays rapidly approaching.

Talks with a special mediator continued over the weekend between the union representing more than 55,000 postal workers and their employer, with the help of a special mediator. In a statement, Canada Post says progress has been limited.

“Canada Post now enters the busy Black Friday online shopping week effectively shut down as CUPW’s national strike is now on day 11,” said Canada Post spokesperson Linda Liu.

“We are down nearly 10 million parcels since the strike began, which will only increase as the strike continues and people look elsewhere to have their items delivered. The impacts continue to be felt across the country, hitting small businesses, charities and remote communities the most.”

Canada Post has offered wage increases totalling 11.5 per cent over four years and additional paid leave, but the union has called for a cumulative wage hike of 24 per cent over four years. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) also wants full-time employees to deliver package shipments on weekends, while Canada Post has offered to hire more part-time staff.

CUPW issued a statement on Monday, claiming Canada Post has been calling members to lay them off in several regions across the country, referring to it as a “scare tactic.”

“While some are saying it is temporary, we’ve heard stories that it may be more permanent,” the statement read in part. “It is clear that Canada Post cannot lay off current employees and bring someone different back to do the work after a strike/lockout. If you are made aware of such actions by [Canada Post], please advise the Union as soon as possible.”

What this means for letters to Santa, other deliveries

Over the weekend, Canada Post said customers have been forced to turn to competitors for their deliveries amid a work stoppage that began on Nov. 15, when thousands of workers across the country walked off the job.

Canada Post has said the postal system must change to compete in the delivery market today.

Because some mail and parcels won’t be processed or delivered during the national strike, the Crown Corporation said children should still write and ready their Santa Claus letters to be quickly mailed out to the North Pole once an agreement is reached or the labour dispute ends.

“When operations do resume, we will help Santa by delivering a response to every letter sent to him this year,” said Liu.

The last postal worker stoppage in 2018 lasted approximately five weeks before the federal government mandated employees return to work. CUPW employers then worked without a contract for two years, with the CUPW and Canada Post reaching collective agreements in Sept. 2021.

“In big cities, FedEx is there, and UPS is there; however, outside in rural areas, Canada Post is, mostly, the only one out there,” said Canada Post steward Jamie Hiltz. “The people in rural areas are really suffering, as opposed to the big city, where there are alternatives.”

With files from The Canadian Press