If you’ve been refreshing your mailbox for an important cheque or package, you’re not alone. The Canada Post strike that began on September 25, 2025, has left millions wondering when mail will actually arrive. This article gives you the live status, what “rotating strike” really means, and how the disruption is hitting CRA services hardest.

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Current strike status: Ongoing rotating strikes ·
Start date: September 25, 2025 ·
Workers affected: 55,000 members ·
Type of strike: Rotating strikes ·
Mail delivery: Resumed with delays ·
CRA impact: Service disruption ongoing

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • How long the strike will last
  • When full mail service will resume
  • Whether a new agreement will be reached
3Timeline signal
  • Sept 25, 2025: Strike launched (Canada Post service alerts)
  • Oct 14, 2025: Mail delivery resumes with delays (Canada Post service alerts)
  • Previous tentative agreements reached and withdrawn (Canada Post service alerts)
4What’s next
  • Negotiations between CUPW and Canada Post continue
  • Government may intervene further
  • CRA encourages online services to avoid delays

Seven critical numbers, one pattern: the strike is disrupting everything from basic mail to government benefits.

Category Detail
Start date September 25, 2025
Union Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)
Members 55,000
Type Rotating nationwide strike
Status Ongoing (as of Oct 2025)
CRA impact Service disruption
Mail delivery Resumed with delays

The table shows the same pattern from every angle: the strike has not ended.

The upshot

55,000 postal workers are rotating walkouts across the country. For anyone waiting on a benefit cheque or a tax refund, the clock is ticking faster than the delivery truck.

Is Canada Post still on strike as of now?

Current status as of October 2025

  • The rotating strike that began on September 25, 2025, remains active. Mail delivery has resumed but with significant delays, according to Canada Post service alert system.
  • The Canada Revenue Agency official notification confirms postal services have been interrupted since September 25.

What the union says

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) hasn’t released a new statement since the strike began, but their initial notice cited failed negotiations over reform issues. The union launched the strike after a government announcement on Canada Post’s transformation, as reported by Canada Post labour discussion updates.

What Canada Post says

Canada Post acknowledges the strike is ongoing and warns customers to expect delays. Their service alert page uses a colour-coded system: red means delivery suspended, yellow means delays possible. As of mid-October, many regions are under yellow alerts.

What this means: The strike is real and active. If you see a yellow alert, your mail is moving — but slowly.

What does rotating strike mean for Canada Post?

How rotating strikes work

  • Instead of shutting down all operations at once, rotating strikes target specific locations and times. A city may lose service for a day, then resume, then stop again.
  • This pattern makes it hard for Canada Post to predict regional delivery windows. The service alert system updates daily per region.

Impact on delivery schedule

Mail moves in bursts. A parcel may sit in a depot for 48 hours, then get processed quickly when staff are back. The Canada Post corporate news page warns that “customers should expect delays” even after delivery resumes.

Difference from full strike

In a full strike, all mail stops. In a rotating strike, some mail moves some days. The trade-off: lower immediate economic damage but longer uncertainty. The union can keep pressure on without a total halt.

Why this matters

For a small business relying on regular parcel shipments, a rotating strike means you can’t plan. Some orders go out, others don’t. The unpredictability is the real cost.

The pattern: Rotating strikes are designed to hurt without breaking. The question is who can afford the uncertainty longer.

When can I expect my mail from Canada Post?

Estimated delivery timelines

  • Canada Post says delivery resumed on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, but “customers should expect delays” (Canada Post service alerts).
  • There is no national timeline. Regional yellow alerts determine actual windows.

Factors causing delays

The rotating nature means a sorting facility may be offline for a day, then a delivery route for another day. Backlogs build. Packages that would normally take 2–3 days may stretch to 7–10 days or more.

Tracking your package during the strike

Tracking updates may themselves be delayed. Canada Post acknowledges that scanning events can stall during labour disruptions. If your tracking number shows no movement for 48 hours, it’s likely sitting in a depot awaiting the next working shift.

The catch: Tracking is only as good as the last scanner. In a rotating strike, the scanner might be gone for the day.

How does the Canada Post strike affect CRA services?

Cheques and benefits delays

  • The Canada Revenue Agency official disruption notice says that cheques for the Canada Child Benefit and related provincial programs will be issued by direct deposit on December 12, 2025, and delivered by Canada Post on December 19, 2025.
  • The Newfoundland and Labrador disability benefit follows the same schedule.
  • All other payments — including tax refunds — are being produced but held securely until mail resumes.

Alternative delivery methods

The CRA strongly recommends using digital services: My Account, My Business Account, and direct deposit. Security codes requested by mail will be delayed (CRA warning).

CRA official statements

The CRA has posted a clear warning: “During a postal disruption, certain services may be delayed or not delivered at all.” They also note that correspondence, forms, and notices may not be mailed out during any period of postal disruption.

The implication: Anyone waiting for a benefit cheque should switch to direct deposit immediately. Paper-based processes will be stuck until the strike ends.

Did Canada Post reach an agreement?

Latest negotiation updates

  • Tentative agreements were reached in earlier rounds but later withdrawn. The strike is currently over reform issues, including the government’s transformation plan for Canada Post.
  • As of late October 2025, negotiations are ongoing. The Canada Post labour discussion page says the union launched the strike after a government announcement.

Tentative agreements vs. withdrawal

According to Canada Post’s corporate news, tentative agreements had been reached and then vacated. This creates a pattern of starts and stops that undermines trust. Both sides blame the other for the breakdown.

What happens next

The federal government has been involved, but no mediator has been appointed publicly. Industry watchers predict the strike could stretch into November if no deal is reached.

The trade-off: A quick deal would restore service but might give the union less on reform. A long strike forces harder concessions but damages Canada Post’s reliability for months.

Timeline

  • — CUPW launches nationwide strike after government announcement on Canada Post transformation
  • — Mail delivery resumes but with delays; rotating strike continues
  • Previous months — Tentative agreements reached and later withdrawn

Confirmed facts

  • Strike started September 25, 2025
  • Rotating strikes ongoing
  • Mail delivery resumed with delays
  • CRA services disrupted

What’s unclear

  • Duration of strike
  • When full service will resume
  • Whether a new agreement will be reached

Mail delivery has since resumed on Tuesday, though Canada Post has said that ‘customers should expect delays’ as the job action is ongoing.

— Canada Post corporate news, labour discussion updates

During a postal disruption, certain services may be delayed or not delivered at all.

— Canada Revenue Agency official warning, disruption notice

Bottom line: The Canada Post strike is real and active. For anyone expecting a benefit cheque: switch to direct deposit now. For parcel customers: expect 7–10 day delays until a new agreement is signed.

For the millions of Canadians waiting on mail — especially those reliant on CRA benefit payments — the choice is clear: go digital, or risk weeks of uncertainty. A rotating strike doesn’t stop everything, but it stops enough to force real adjustment.

Additional sources

youtube.com, labornotes.org, about.usps.com, youtube.com

For the most current developments, check out the latest Canada Post strike update for detailed impacts and status.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Canada Post delivering today?

It depends on your region. Check the Canada Post service alerts page for the latest colour-coded status. Yellow means delivery continues with delays; red means suspended.

What is the latest update on negotiations?

Negotiations are ongoing. Tentative agreements were reached earlier but later withdrawn. No new deal has been announced as of late October 2025.

How long will the rotating strike last?

There is no set end date. The duration depends on progress between CUPW and Canada Post. Past rotating strikes in Canada have lasted anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Will my package be delayed?

Yes, expect delays. Canada Post warns that “customers should expect delays” even when delivery resumes. Priority services may be rerouted to alternative carriers.

How does the strike affect small businesses?

Small businesses that rely on Canada Post for shipments face unpredictable delivery windows. Many are turning to alternative carriers like Purolator or UPS during the strike.

Can I still send mail during the strike?

Yes, mail can be sent, but it will be processed and delivered on a delayed schedule. Drop-off points remain open in most areas.

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