Surrey postal workers continue picketing after rejecting Canada Post’s latest offer, which the union says worsens conditions amid financial strain.
Surrey postal workers remain on strike amid new offer dispute
Labour unrest escalates in South Surrey
Unionized postal workers at Canada Post’s South Surrey depot remain on the picket lines as the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) reviews a new offer from the corporation. The strike, which began on Sept. 25, follows Ottawa’s postal reform announcement that includes a phase-out of home mail delivery. The new offer was presented on Oct. 3, but the union says it’s worse than the one rejected in spring.
Details of Canada Post’s latest proposal
In a news release, Canada Post said the new proposal “balances modernization with fairness and respect for employees.” The company’s offer includes a 13.59 per cent wage increase over four years, the same figure it proposed in May. However, the corporation confirmed it would no longer uphold “job security for life” provisions or provide a signing bonus due to what it calls a “deteriorating financial situation.”
Union pushes back on company’s terms
CUPW’s Fraser Valley West vice-president, Holly Isaac, said the new proposal undermines workers’ rights and fails to address key concerns about job security. “We weren’t looking for a signing bonus,” Isaac told Maple News Wire from the South Surrey picket line. “We wanted meaningful changes that secure jobs — not cuts justified by mismanagement.”
Rising costs drive workers’ demands
CUPW’s national president, Jan Simpson, criticized the revised offer, noting the union has waited 45 days “for offers that are worse than what we rejected.” The union’s demands include wage increases reflecting inflation, better health benefits for carriers walking up to 24 kilometres a day, and job protections amid federal restructuring.
Canada Post’s finances under scrutiny
Federal Public Works Minister Joël Lightbound stated on Sept. 25 that Canada Post is losing $10 million per day, a figure the union disputes. Isaac argues the postal service’s financial challenges stem from executive mismanagement, not frontline workers. “Canada Post is a public service, not a profit machine,” she said. “Running it like a business benefits executives, not Canadians.”
Union proposes postal banking as solution
To generate new revenue, CUPW has proposed reintroducing postal banking, a service Canada once offered from 1867 to 1969. The union says such a move would bring essential banking access to rural communities and help stabilize the postal service’s finances. “Postal banking exists in countries like France and New Zealand — it’s time Canada followed suit,” Isaac added.
Impact on jobs and communities
The union warns that ending home delivery could result in the loss of over 16,000 jobs, while shifting deliveries to community mailboxes would reduce paid hours for postal workers. Isaac stressed that the cuts would hurt seniors and people with disabilities. “These changes force vulnerable Canadians and workers to bear the cost of poor management,” she said.
Outlook: negotiations continue
Canada Post CEO Doug Ettinger said the corporation remains committed to negotiating a fair deal while adapting to government reforms. The company has 45 days to present its restructuring plan. Until an agreement is reached, postal workers say they’ll continue their strike. “None of us want to be out here,” Isaac said. “We just want fair conditions to keep serving our communities.”
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