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The Royal Mail has moved up its final Christmas postal dates due to the looming threat of strikes. Executives have confirmed that people now have to post their last items within the week. Laura Joseph, the Post Office customer experience director, revealed that people only have until December 16.
She warned people to post their parcels “as soon ave you’ve got them ready”, adding post offices would become increasingly busy towards the end of the week.
Ms Joseph said: “Royal Mail has brought forward the last recommended posting dates for many of its services.
“As a result, Friday December 16 is now likely to be even busier in Post Office branches as customers race to ensure cards and gifts arrive for Christmas Day.
“As soon as you’ve got your parcels ready to go get them in the post – many Post Office branches are open long hours, and some are open seven days a week so pop into your local branch and get your gifts sent in time for Christmas.”
READ MORE: Soldiers forced to give up their Christmas to cover striking staff
Strikes fall on the following days:
- Wednesday, December 14
- Thursday, December, 15
- Friday, December 23
- Saturday, December 24
Strikes have primarily come from the Communications Workers Union (CWU), members of which voted for action by a significant majority.
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Members of the union who work with Royal Mail voted for walkouts with a 97.6 percent majority.
Dave Ward, the CWU General Secretary, accused Royal Mail of risking a “Christmas meltdown” because of bosses’ “stubborn refusal to treat their employees with respect”
He said: “Royal Mail bosses are risking a Christmas meltdown because of their stubborn refusal to treat their employees with respect.
“Postal workers want to get on with serving the communities they belong to, delivering Christmas gifts and tackling the backlog from recent weeks.”
He added: “But they know their value, and they will not meekly accept the casualisation of their jobs, the destruction of their conditions and the impoverishment of their families.
“This can be resolved if Royal Mail begin treating their workers with respect, and meet with the union to resolve this dispute.”
Royal Mail accused the CWU of “deliberately holding Christmas to ransom for our customers, businesses and families across the country”.
A spokesman added: “Their misguided belief that further industrial action, in a business already losing more than £1 million a day, will result in an improved pay offer is misleading its members and risking their long-term job security.”
