On November 15th, 2024, around 55,000 Canada Post workers went on strike. Canada Post said in a statement that it would shut down operations and wouldn't accept new shipments into its network for as long as the strike lasts.
Mail and packages won't be processed or delivered in Canada for the duration of the strike, and some post offices throughout the country will be closed. Here's what the Canada Post strike means for you, and some tips on how to get your packages to your Canadian recipients in the meantime 🇨🇦
International USPS services & Simple Export Rate shipments are affected
Simple Export Rate Will Face Delays: Since Asendia partners with Canada Post for last-mile delivery for some shipments, Simple Export Rate shipments will be delayed.
Asendia confirmed that tracking delays for Canada-bound Simple Export Rate shipments will be reflected on the AHOY tracking pages (read more about tracking Simple Export Rate packages).
USPS Has Stopped Acceptance of Packages: While USPS previously accepted shipments bound for Canada during the strike, as of Friday, November 29th, USPS has temporarily suspended international mail acceptance to Canada.
Packages Already in the Network Will Be Delayed: If you already have a USPS or Simple Export Rate shipment accepted into the Canada Post network, its delivery will be delayed by an undetermined amount of time.
How can I get my packages to my Canadian customers in the meantime?
We're not sure how long the Canada Post strike will last 🙈 But here's what you can do to ensure your Canadian recipients receive their packages this holiday season:
Use UPS for any shipments going to Canada
Ship With UPS in the Meantime: Unlike USPS or Asendia, UPS moves packages through its private network around the world. So, for as long as the strike lasts, the best way to get packages to your Canadian recipients is to use UPS.
Canada Post is used for last-mile delivery for USPS, but not UPS. The Canada Post strike won't affect UPS delivery timeframes at all!
Check out our Holiday Shipping Deadlines to see the dates you need to ship by for your Canadian customers to get their UPS packages on or before December 24th 🎁
Use Our Rates Calculator for a UPS Quote: To see how much it will cost to switch to UPS for your Canada-bound packages (and how much you might save 😉), use our Rates Calculator.
Chat with our crew for Canadian shipments that get returned to you during the strike
Support for RTS Shipments Going to Canada: If your Canadian shipment was marked "Return to Sender" (RTS) and got sent back to you due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, chat with our Support Crew. We'll see if we can lend a hook to help you across the choppy waters, Matey!