Navigating the Canada Post Strike: What It Means For Your Mail

Starting November 29, 2024, USPS hit pause on international mail to Canada. Why? A strike by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers is making it tough for Canada Post to process and deliver mail. 

What does this mean for you if you’re relying on these services? Don’t worry – we’re here to help you navigate this bump in the road.

What’s happening with Canada Posts and USPS?

Why is Canada Post unable to process mail?

The strike initiated on Nov 15, 2024, involves approximately 55,000 Canada post workers. The union is advocating for:

• Improved working conditions: to address health and safety concerns.
• Better wages and benefits: to align with rising living costs
• Reduced workloads: as parcel volumes increase, especially during peak seasons.

USPS suspends mail to Canada 

Due to Canada Post’s limited capacity, USPS has temporarily stopped sending international mail to Canada. This helps avoid backlogs and ensures nothing gets lost along the way. Other postal services around the world might take similar steps, which could further affect cross-border mail.

How does this affect businesses and individuals?

For individuals

• Delayed holiday mail: Letters and packages intended for Canada will not reach recipients until services resume.
• Limited options: While private couriers may still operate, their capacity and reliability could be affected.

For businesses

• Customer communication challenges: Delays in invoices, marketing materials, and product shipments could strain customer relationships.
• Operational disruptions: Businesses relying on cross-border mail will face delays, particularly during the holiday season.

Steps you can take now

Lob has suspended Canada-bound sends

To avoid any issues with mail delivery, Lob has temporarily paused the option to send mail to Canada while the strike is happening. This way, we can make sure no mail gets delayed or lost during the disruption.

Reach out to your customer support representative

If you’ve got questions about how this affects your campaigns or need help managing your mailing lists, our support team’s got you covered. Feel free to reach out—we’re here to help with personalized support!

What you can do to adapt

1. Stay updated: Monitor USPS service alerts and Canada Post updates.
2. Communicate proactively: Inform your customers in Canada about potential delays and provide alternative solutions where possible.
3. Plan for the future: Prepare to resume campaigns with Canadian addresses as soon as services are restored.

We’re here to help you through this disruption

We understand that this strike impacts your ability to connect with your customers and stakeholders in Canada. We're committed to supporting you during this time. From holding mail securely to providing expert guidance, we’re here to make sure your campaigns resume smoothly when services are back online.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Customer Success Representative. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

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