Canada Post prepares to roll out major cuts, implementing a restructuring agenda required by their shareholder, the federal government. Over the past few years the organization has been working under a directive to make sweeping changes to its operating structure. These changes have included expanding community mailboxes, raising delivery standards, and closing or downsizing hundreds of post offices. After this announcement, Canada Post was provided with a 45-day deadline to develop a detailed plan to implement these changes.
In fact, the recent changes to Canada Post’s mandate have been widely condemned by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), the union representing postal workers. Union officials say that these changes are damaging the post office’s long term viability. Further, they raise the alarm about the detrimental effects on their own employees and the provision of high quality service. The union wants to make sure that the reorganization does not lead to lost jobs. This makes it hard not to question the potential for a major workforce cut as Canada Post makes this transition.
Just last month, the feds announced changes to Canada Post’s services – to modernize and adapt. These improvements address the ever-changing demands of their customers and increasing fiscal realities head-on. The decision to expand community mailboxes is intended to improve service efficiency, allowing for centralized delivery points in certain areas. We’re overhauling delivery standards, including what a delivery service frequency means, which may result in new service frequencies. This would be a direct threat to mail delivery reliability nationwide.
As a part of this restructuring, Canada Post will assess the merits of closing certain post offices. This is a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for all communities that depend on locally delivered postal services. In addition to positive community impacts, the union has highlighted the detrimental effects caused by these closures. They fear that access to critical services will erode—and employees’ security of employment will evaporate.
Given these recent advancements, Canada Post needs to come up with a clearer plan on the potentially chaotic 45-day window given. This is a tremendous burden on the organization that requires balance between operational efficiency and maintaining the trust of the public and the organization’s employees. Indeed, the union’s criticism gets to the heart of a large, under-discussed problem. Canada Post’s sustainability is under threat in our ever more digital age, where traditional mail services are dwindling.
