Letter carriers’ union asks Canada Post for self-defence training as violent attacks spike By: Nicole Buffie Posted: 6:13 PM CDT Monday, Aug. 25, 2025

A troubling increase in violent attacks on Winnipeg letter carriers has prompted their union to ask Canada Post to provide self-defence classes.

Canadian Union of Postal Workers Winnipeg Local 856 president Sean Tugby says there have been 12 attacks on mail carriers over the past year, well above the one or two, on average, over previous 12-month periods.

“(Carriers) are concerned for their safety. They’re concerned for their mental health when they’re going out and constantly looking over their shoulders. It’s been ongoing for some time,” Tugby said Monday.

Last week the Winnipeg Police Service reported the arrest of a man accused of attacking a letter carrier in the Waverley Heights neighbourhood.

Police say the 21-year-old suspect came out of his home and, unprovoked, began berating the carrier before shoving him to the ground and assaulting him.

A passing delivery driver intervened and assisted the carrier before police were called.

The following day, Tugby sent an email to Canada Post leadership asking them to offer self-defence classes to complement the disengagement training employees already receive.

The email, reviewed by the Free Press, says the request comes from employees asking for the classes after the “record numbers” of assaults on letter carriers.

“It’s not a first. Every time we go through something like this, we raise concerns and ask for remedies, longer-term ones, and they’re usually pretty minimal responses,” he said.

Canada Post did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

Carriers have been subject to physical, verbal and sexual assaults and robberies during on their routes, CUPW local 856 health and safety officer Reggie Taman said.

“It’s not a first. Every time we go through something like this, we raise concerns and ask for remedies, longer-term ones, and they’re usually pretty minimal responses.”–Union president Sean Tugby

Earlier this year, an employee was assaulted from behind while unloading a truck on Canada Post property. The worker was left with long-term physical and psychological injuries.

“This employee might not even come back to work,” Taman said. “The trauma that these assaults and robberies leave behind is challenging.”

Another letter carrier was accosted and assaulted earlier this month, he said.

Much of the violence against carriers comes from people suspected to be under the influence of drugs or in a mental-health crisis, underscoring a national trend of violence against public- sector workers, he said.

Carriers are equipped with pepper gel and blow horns to use on aggressive dogs, but Tugby said there’s little protection against people.

“Carriers have been, literally, chased down the street and, in some cases, they’ve actually had customers roll up to them in their vehicle saying, ‘Get in the car, get in the car, get away from this guy,’” he said.

“Carriers have been, literally, chased down the street and, in some cases, they’ve actually had customers roll up to them in their vehicle saying, ‘Get in the car, get in the car, get away from this guy.’”–Union president Sean Tugby

All Canada Post employees carry portable data terminals which are used to input information, and, after the serious assault on Canada Post property earlier this year, the Crown corporation said it would upgrade the devices to communicate during emergency situations and record other information related to worker safety.

That hasn’t happened yet, Taman said.

“When we’re not safe on our own property… that’s scary,” he said. “On the street it’s a little more unpredictable because we don’t control the environment, we don’t control the hazards out there. (We’ve) just got to be engaged and try to be aware of our surroundings to the best we can.”

The union and employer are still negotiating a new contract after being mandated back to work by the federal government following a 32-day strike last November.

Taman said fighting for safer working conditions shouldn’t be a bargaining chip; such issues should be dealt with in ongoing discussions between the union and employer.

“It should be a constant conversation of communication and collaboration of making our workplace safer,” he said.

In its negotiations with Canada Post, CUPW has asked for, among other things, a 19 per cent wage increase over four years and an increase to injury-on-duty leave payments.

On Aug. 20 Canada Post announced it was reviewing the union’s requests and “will be seeking further clarification as needed.”

A negotiation meeting scheduled for Monday between the Canada Post and CUPW was cancelled late last week, the union said.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca