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Royal Mail workers are continuing to stage strikes in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions.
Staff members represented by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced 19 further days of action taking place throughout October and November 2022.
These follow a pre-existing two-day walkout which is expected to cause widespread disruption to postal services.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is the next postal strike?
The next Royal Mail strike will be a 48-hour walkout taking place on Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October.
Staff represented by the CWU Union have already walked out over three days in August and September, causing widespread disruption.
A fourth strike was due to take place on Friday 9 September but was cancelled after news broke that the Queen had died.
When are the rest of the Royal Mail strikes in 2022?
Four days of widespread action involving all CWU workers have also been organised. There will be 24-hour walkouts beginning at 4am on:
- Thursday 13 October
- Thursday 20 October
- Tuesday 25 October
- Monday 28 November
Smaller groups and teams will strike on various dates in November and December, and the CWU has said the action will have a knock-on effect on all deliveries. These dates are as follows:
- Processing, distribution, international, collections and admin workers: Thursday 3, Wednesday 9, Tuesday 15, Thursday 24 November and Thursday 1 December
- Delivery workers: Friday 4, Thursday 10, Wednesday 16, Friday 25 November and Friday 2 December
- Network workers: Wednesday 2, Tuesday 8, Monday 14, Wednesday 23 and Wednesday 30 November
The union said it will have a “dramatic impact” and will cover peak mail periods such as Black Friday on 25 November, Cyber Monday on 28 November and the Christmas build-up.
How is post affected on Royal Mail strike dates?
Despite “well-developed contingency plans”, Royal Mail previously acknowledged that these “cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce”.
This means major disruption to postal services is inevitable on the full strike dates, with “some disruption” likely on the days of partial action.
Royal Mail advises customers to:
- Post items as early as possible in advance of the strike dates
- Continue to post items at post boxes or Post Offices, but be aware collections will be less frequent on days when strike action is taking place
The most significant effect is that Royal Mail will not be delivering any letters on these days, except for those sent by Special Delivery.
Special Delivery parcels are also being prioritised, although Royal Mail adds: “However, we cannot guarantee delivery of all items by 9am or 1pm next day.”
Royal Mail has also promised to “prioritise the delivery of Covid test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible” when strikes are taking place, alongside other Tracked24 parcels.
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Any items posted in postboxes or Post Offices the day before, during or following strike dates are likely to be subject to delays.
The majority of Post Offices are expected to be open on the dates walkouts are talking place, although a small number will be affected by the CWU action.
Postal deliveries – and collections from businesses, Post Offices and post boxes – should resume the day after each strike takes place.
Why are Royal Mail workers striking?
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said the “signifcant announcement” of strikes “matches the level of anger our members feel” at their treatment.
He added: “The chief executive of Royal Mail Group is treating postal workers as if they are stupid. These are the same people that have kept the country connected and returned Royal Mail Group to record profit.”
“Postal workers across the UK now face the fight of their lives to save their jobs and the service they provide to every household and business in the UK.”
Calling on “everyone to stand with their local postal worker,” Mr Ward said: “We will not stand by and see the Royal Mail Group become the next P&O but we need your backing to win.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “On September 22, Royal Mail invited CWU to enter into talks through Acas to find a resolution to our dispute on change and pay.
“This evening, rather than responding to our offer of Acas talks, the CWU announced further damaging industrial action, once again taking the path of prolonging disruption over resolution.
“Royal Mail is losing £1 million a day and must change faster in response to changing customer demands. We operate in a competitive market, and our customers have choices.
“Further strikes and resistance to transformation by CWU will only make our financial position worse, and threatens the long-term job security of our postmen and women.”
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