Canada Post and the union representing its delivery workers are trying to negotiate a new deal before their current agreement expires on May 22nd. Workers may go on strike if they don't reach a deal with the carrier by that day, potentially bringing Canada Post's operations to a standstill.
Here's everything you need to know about how a potential Canada Post strike will affect you, and how to ensure your shipments make it to Canada during any work stoppages 🇨🇦
All services on Pirate Ship remain active (as of 5/16/2025)
No services suspended: As of May 16th, 2025, all international USPS and UPS services remain active on Pirate Ship. We will continue monitoring the situation and will update you if either USPS or UPS suspends any services to Canada 👍
A possible strike will affect USPS shipments to Canada, along with Simple Export Rate®
Possible delays for USPS shipments already in transit: If you sent a package to Canada through USPS that is currently in transit, there's a chance that it will be held up if it hasn't been delivered by the time the strike occurs (if it does).
A possible strike may cause delays for international USPS shipments going to Canada since USPS partners with Canada Post to carry out last-mile delivery.
Simple Export Rate shipments will also be affected: We have recently learned from our partners that a potential Canada Post strike will also affect Simple Export Rate deliveries.
Use UPS to ship to Canada in the meantime
UPS services won't be affected: With the potential strike on the horizon, we recommend using UPS to ship to Canada.
A Canada Post strike won’t affect UPS services, since UPS uses its private network for delivery and doesn't rely on Canada Post.
Protect your shipments with InsureShield® coverage
Consider purchasing InsureShield: In times of uncertainty, we always recommend adding coverage through InsureShield. It’s a simple way to add extra peace of mind in case of unexpected delays or issues.
Protecting your packages with InsureShield will allow you to file claims if your Canada-bound shipments get lost or are indefinitely delayed during a potential strike.