'Very hectic': Local couriers seeing record business during Canada Post strike

Local couriers in Saskatchewan are working extended hours under increased demand to fill a void left by the Canada Post work stoppage this holiday season.

Custom Courier Co. co-owner Jason Gelowitz says while this time of year is typically busy, the company is seeing an increase of business around 30 to 40 per cent the past five weeks as businesses of all sizes reacted to the mail disruption by finding other third-party delivery services.

“It's been very hectic, very stressful,” he said. “A lot of work getting done in a short amount of time.”

As the Canada Post backlog grew, Gelowitz says companies like Purolator, DHL and FedEx were used deliveries, and when they became too busy to handle the increased demand, that business trickled down to local companies like Custom Courier – in addition to the increased calls Custom Courier was already taking.

Gelowitz says he sent drivers to Melfort to fulfill orders for one of those companies as well as staffing more drivers late into the night and on weekends.

“We did hire some people who will be staying on full-time with us so that we did not hire any temporary workers,” he said. “Everything is full-time for us, and we just continued.”

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Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 824 president Brahm Enslin says Canada Post employees reluctantly went back to work Tuesday after the Canadian Industrial Relations Board ordered them back on the job 32 days after the strike began.

“It’s really disheartening. It really has a bad effect on labor in general and collective bargaining,” Enslin said. “And we believe the order to be illegal. And so we're upset.”

Enslin says workers are beginning to realize the backlog of mail they face as work continues to ramp up.

“There’s now pressure to get everything out before Christmas. And carriers are happy to get the mail out, but, not under these circumstances,” he said.

Canada Post says customers should expect delays for the rest of the year and in January 2025. Small business and commercial business customers can begin dropping off parcels at any post office or mailbox on Thursday. International mail will be accepted starting on Monday.

Local courier Sendr has also seen a dramatic increase in business.

“We will be probably close to being twice as busy as we typically would be at this time of year,” owner Eric Gryba said.

“The Canada Post strike affected a lot more people and a lot more businesses and a lot more services than people would have thought prior to the strike.”

Now that Canada Post is back to delivering mail, couriers aren’t expected to slow down anytime soon. Companies are now ready to send piles of mail that’s been growing for the past five weeks, especially rural areas which largely rely on Canada Post.

“There's been a massive disruption in the market,” Gryba said.