Mail halted in Fredericton as Canada Post strike deepens

On Sept. 25, mail and parcel delivery across Fredericton came to a standstill amid a nationwide strike by Canada Post workers. (Polina Kozlova/AQ)

Aurora McKee, a postal worker at the Prospect Street post office, confirmed that employees are no longer accepting letters or parcels — except for Amazon returns, which she says will be held in the office until the strike ends.

“But even Amazon returns, we’re just keeping [them] in the office until the end of the strike.”

She added that staff have not been told when the walkout will conclude.

“Everything is on hold,” said McKee.

The strike began on Sept. 25, after the federal government announced sweeping reforms intended to modernize Canada Post operations, including the end of door-to-door delivery for most households and the transition of millions of addresses to community mailboxes.

The government said the changes are necessary to stabilize Canada Post’s finances, citing ongoing losses and declining letter volumes.

In response, Canada Post confirmed that operations have been suspended.

“All mail and parcel services are halted,” the corporation stated. “No new items will be accepted during the national strike.”

The federal government described the postal system as “effectively insolvent,” warning that repeated bailouts are unsustainable.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which represents about 55,000 employees, issued a statement saying the strike was a response to what it calls an “attack on our postal service and workers.”

The union criticized the reform proposals as abrupt and lacking in thorough consultation with employees.

CUPW National President Jan Simpson said, “We did not take the decision to move to a nationwide strike lightly.”

Local businesses in Fredericton that rely on mail delivery have begun seeking alternatives, such as private couriers, though those options often come with higher costs.

Customers attempting to send or receive official documents, payments, or small packages are experiencing delays and uncertainty.

Meanwhile, residents visiting the Prospect Street post office expressed mixed reactions. Some voiced frustration over interrupted services, while others supported postal workers’ efforts for fair labour conditions.

McKee said postal employees hope for a swift resolution but remain united in their stand.

“We just want a fair deal,” she said. “Until then, we’re waiting like everyone else.”