In the latest chapter of a seesaw battle over a new contract, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) has filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Canada Post, alleging the employer is directly bargaining with union members and undermining the union’s exclusive role in negotiations.
Filed on June 3, 2025, under sections 94(1) and 97(1) of the Canada Labour Code, the complaint accuses Canada Post of bypassing CUPW by providing offers and related information directly to its members while failing to share these details with the union itself.
The ongoing dispute has seen the two sides trade allegations and proposals as they attempt to negotiate a new collective agreement. CUPW has long accused Canada Post of trying to divide workers and weaken the union’s position at the bargaining table, while Canada Post insists it is meeting its obligations to communicate transparently with employees.
In the latest complaint, CUPW says Canada Post has used captive audience meetings, videos, press releases, documents, televisions, portable data terminals and QR codes to direct members to the company’s “negotiations hub,” effectively sidestepping the union’s role. According to CUPW, these communications used alarmist language and misinformation to discredit the union and intimidate its members.
Further, CUPW claims that Canada Post’s so-called “public calls” for a vote were manufactured through these efforts and that the company has been altering its offers based on online feedback from employees, rather than negotiating directly with the union.
The union is asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to order Canada Post to stop interfering in the collective bargaining process and to level the playing field by allowing CUPW to respond to the employer’s messages on its platforms. It is also seeking damages to be awarded to the union and its members.
The union further alleges that Canada Post has strategically released information to the media ahead of providing it to CUPW, or so close to union briefings that the union is left without an opportunity to prepare a considered response. Representatives say Canada Post has also timed its releases late on Friday afternoons, ensuring the employer’s message dominates the weekend news cycle, while limiting the union’s ability to reply.
The statement was issued by Lana Smidt, lead negotiator for the Urban Operations Unit, and Carl Girouard, national grievance officer.
For further details, visit CUPW’s website.