SaskatchewanThe president of the Regina union local for postal workers says they are shocked by the federal government’s moves to reform Canada Post in the middle of a labour dispute.Small businesses worried about supply lines with postal workers back on picket lineScott Larson · CBC News · Posted: Sep 26, 2025 5:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: 41 minutes agoCanada Post delivery trucks sit idle at the 22nd Street depot in Saskatoon. (Scott Larson/CBC)The president of the Regina union local for postal workers says they are shocked by the federal government’s moves to reform Canada Post in the middle of a labour dispute.”Canada Post is just using the government to do all of their heavy lifting and just not even bothering to go to the table and negotiate,” said Morgan Janzen, president of CUPW Local 820, while walking the picket line in Regina on Friday.”I don’t think it’s too much to ask the bare minimum of the corporation to just meet with us and, you know, have a contract.”The federal government is allowing Canada Post to end home mail delivery and close some rural postal outlets. Government Transformation Minister Joël Lightbound has said Canada Post is in an “existential crisis” and can’t keep depending on bailouts to survive.The union representing postal employees quickly responded Thursday afternoon, saying workers would be back on the picket line.Morgan Janzen, president of CUPW Local 820 in Regina, says Canada Post is using the government to force workers into a deal. (Matt Howard/CBC)Postal workers have been in contract negotiations with Canada Post for two years.Canada Post says no mail or parcels will be processed or delivered during the strike, and service guarantees for items already in the mail are suspended.Janzen said the moves will hurt rural customers the most.”Essentially, the government and Canada Post are just saying that [rural customers] are not valuable enough, that they just aren’t worth enough to be serviced by Canada Post,” he said.”We disagree with that. We think every Canadian deserves service.”Small businesses worryJanelle Anderson owns Handmade Saskatchewan, which has four locations in the province.Anderson said she was on the side of postal workers after the strike in December.”We understand where the Canada Post workers are coming from,” Anderson said. “But I think a lot [of businesses] have shifted away from using them because we have to think what is best for our business. How do we continue to operate our business and shipping things?”Regina postal workers wre walking the picket line on Friday. (Matt Howard/CBC)Anderson said her company ships items almost every day and has no choice but to find other delivery systems, even though it is more expensive.The business saw a drop in online sales last December and Anderson expects the same thing will happen this time around.”We’ve already put the option to choose Purolator on the website so people can use that, but it’s a lot of hesitation, especially from people who live in rural communities.”Those rural customers are more vulnerable, she said. In a larger centres parcels can be shipped using other couriers. It’s not that easy in the small communities.”People don’t realize the convenience that Canada Post brings to smaller communities,” she said. “It is like a lifeline in a way.”Anderson lives in Regina Beach and now must drive to Regina to ship anything.”That’s extra gas money that I spend for the business to get my parcels back and forth,” she said.It’s the same situation for the 200 or so vendors who sell products through her stores.”They’re trying to figure out now how to ship products to our stores,” Anderson said.”I do understand that Canada Post does need to look at their procedures and things do need to change. But at the same time, we can’t forget that there is a whole huge population that relies on them in their services the way they are now.”Christine Quale runs a home-based business in Saskatoon and said she relies on home delivery service.”I get lots of stuff that’s delivered to my house and so I’ll have to go out of my way to go pick up stuff now, which is manageable, but it’s just so convenient to just have it delivered to your house.”Brianna Solberg, provincial director for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, speaks with media at the Saskatchewan Legislature. (Alexander Quon/CBC)CFIB calls for essential services legislationBrianna Solberg, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s provincial director for the Prairies and the North, said last year’s postal stoppage cost the small business sector around $1 billion.Solberg said there was optimism heading into the Christmas season that some of those losses could be recouped.”This postal disruption essentially threatens to make matters extremely difficult for them.”Solberg said the CFIB supports the federal government’s reforms.”We believe that this is absolutely necessary or we will continue to find ourselves in this situation year after year,” she said.”However, while reforms are being rolled out, we can’t afford a work stoppage, so we’re calling for essential services legislation to be implemented.”She said small businesses, especially those in rural areas and do a lot of shipping, rely heavily on Canada Post.”We’re not just talking about parcel delivery here, we’re talking about mail, the ability to send and receive payments,” Solberg said.”That’s devastating in the lead up to the holiday season.”ABOUT THE AUTHORScott Larson works for CBC News in Saskatoon. scott.larson@cbc.caWith files from Radio Canada
Canada Post using feds to strongarm workers, says Regina union president
