Canadians are still receiving mail, but the question is for how much longer?

Canada Post, the primary mailing service in the country, has had an ongoing contract and labour dispute with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Given the possibility of a lockout in the next month, Canadians are uncertain about whether their mail deliveries will soon come to a halt.

Last month, CUPW proposed to Canada Post a change in contract, with issues surrounding pension plans and pay equity. CUPW is negotiating for pay equity between rural and urban carriers, especially since the majority of rural carriers are women. Currently, letter carriers in urban areas make $50,000 a year, while rural carriers only make $39,000 a year.

CUPW is also negotiating to keep their defined-benefit plans — an employee's pension payments are calculated according to length of service and the salary earned at the time of retirement — which are guaranteed for life, regardless of how the plan performs. CUPW also wants new employees to receive the same pension plan. Canada Post wants to change pension plans for new employees, moving them to a defined-contribution plan in which the employer, employee or both make contributions on a regular basis.

CUPW has previously stated that Canada Post has had a history of delays when it comes to the issue surrounding pay equity, and they would like to finally see a change. The last labour dispute between CUPW and Canada Post occurred in 2011, which resulted in a lockout that lasted three weeks.

This labour dispute has Canadians across the country concerned about their regular service and the possibility of a lockout. On July 5, Canada Post issued a 72-hour lockout notice, possibly having 50,000 employees without a paycheck, and leaving the nation without mail services. A last-minute deal averted the lockout for 30 days, so the likelihood for one down the road remains uncertain.

The effects of a Canada Post service stoppage on both small and large business are undeniable. E-commerce providers would be left to make alternate plans to deliver their goods to customers. Many questions and concerns have been raised about the long-term costs of doing so if a work stoppage dragged on.

Some Canadian companies, such as Indigo, have offered solutions — such as ship-to-store options with discounts — to accommodate customers and keep business flowing during the labour dispute. Toronto Transit Commission even announced it has decided not to send out August transit passes "due to the uncertainty surrounding a possible labour disruption at Canada Post."

Utility services, financial institutions and national corporations are encouraging Canadians to use online payment systems and e-billing to pay their bills, as all bills still are due on schedule, and late payments will not be forgiven if a lockout occurs.

Furthermore, on a community level, those counting on Canada Post for personal mailings are also worried. For some, it means wedding invitations could end up trapped at the post office, leaving them disheartened. According to the Toronto Star, Yvonne Post, 34, wanted to send out formal invitations because so many items that arrive in the mailbox are junk.

"You get bills. You get notices about how much taxes you have to pay," she said. "It's always so nice when you get an invitation to something, especially celebrating a wedding.” She has opted to drive across Ontario to hand-deliver her invitations instead of risking the chance that her guests won't receive them on time.

The official status of mail service, however, remains undisrupted as Canada Post reached a tentative agreement with the union, which implemented a 30-day window for further negotiations. This 30-day negotiating period will last until early August — with the potential of ending beforehand if both parties come to an agreement.

If an agreement is not made by the end of the negotiation period, Canadians can anticipate the possibility of a lockout. With millions likely to be inconvenienced should these talks break down, Canadians remain on edge regarding the future of physical mail in the country.

A previous version of this story incorrectly indicated that CUPW was considering a strike.