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Royal Mail has told customers they will have to send their Christmas post earlier than usual this year to make sure it arrives in time for the big day. The change is due to ongoing strike action by the company’s workers.
Planned industrial action by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) on December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24 has caused Royal Mail to bring forward its latest recommended posting dates for domestic and international mail. The company hopes the changes will help it manage the higher volumes of mail around the festive period.
Workers are walking out in a row over pay and conditions. It comes amid a wave of industrial action this winter, with other groups striking including nurses and university staff.
READ MORE: ‘Proud postie’ challenges Royal Mail CEO to week on the job as he joins colleagues on picket line
Royal Mail has said it has a number of contingency plans which it says will help it deal with the threat of planned CWU strikes. Nick Landon, chief commercial officer, Royal Mail, said: “The CWU is striking at our busiest time, holding Christmas to ransom for our customers, businesses and families across the country.
“We apologise to our customers for any disruption and delay that the CWU strike action is causing. We ask our customers to post early for Christmas to help us deliver Christmas.”
The final suggested date for sending second-class post has now been brought forward from December 19 to 12. For first class the date has changed from December 21 to 16.
Laura Joseph, Post Office customer experience director, said: “December 12 is now likely to be even busier in Post Office branches as customers race to take advantage of the cheaper postage as this is now the last recommended date for sending second-class parcels to arrive for Christmas.
“As soon as you’ve got your parcels ready to go, don’t wait to come into branch and 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.”
CWU general secretary Dave Ward previously 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.
“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.”
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