Mail Flow Restored: USPS Begins Shipping to Canada Again After Postal Strike!

Canadians can rejoice as the United States Postal Service (USPS) has officially resumed the acceptance of mail and packages destined for Canada, starting Monday. This resumption comes right after the prolonged service disruptions caused by a month-long strike involving Canada Post employees.

In an announcement on its website, the USPS noted that Canada Post has made substantial headway in addressing the backlog of delayed packages resulting from the strike. "Commercial and retail customers, as well as those utilizing online services, can now send mail and packages to Canada once more," the USPS declared.

Last month, Canada Post informed its customers that they should anticipate delays for domestic packages well into the new year. The postal service has been diligently working to eliminate the backlog of international mail, finally beginning to accept new international shipments starting December 23.

The strike, which involved over 55,000 postal workers across Canada, was fueled by critical concerns, including demands for increased wages and worries about the proposed expansion of delivery services into the weekend. In a surprising turn of events, a ministerial directive prompted the labour board to intervene and halt the strike, providing both the union and Canada Post a temporary respite in negotiations. Workers officially returned to their posts on December 17.

Also notable is that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers is set to challenge this intervention in front of the labor board, with hearings scheduled for mid-January. This situation is being closely monitored as it could shape the future of labor negotiations within Canada’s postal services.

As both countries work to restore mail services and clear the backlog, it serves as a reminder of the vital role postal services play in our everyday lives and commerce. So, if you’ve been waiting on packages or important letters from the U.S., good news is on the horizon!