Royal Mail strike: Are post offices open and how post will be affected

Royal Mail staff across the country will strike today (Wednesday) in a dispute over pay.

It is the latest in a series of walk-outs which were confirmed by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) earlier this month. Workers are demanding a “dignified, proper pay rise” after being offered a 2% pay rise, and some 115,000 workers staff members are expected to walk out.

However, Royal Mail has said the union had rejected a pay rise offer “worth up to 5.5%” after three months of talks.

READ MORE: Striking Royal Mail workers ‘using foodbanks to feed families’

Industrial action took place on Friday (August 26) and will take place again today (Wednesday, August 31), as well as September 8 and 9. Royal Mail has apologised to customers, but says it has plans to minimise the disruption.

In a statement it said: “Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but they cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce. We will be doing what we can to keep services running, but customers should expect significant disruption.”

On strike days, Royal Mail said it will:

• deliver as many Special Delivery and Tracked24 parcels as possible
• prioritise the delivery of COVID test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible
• not be delivering letters (with the exception of Special Delivery)

It is also advising customers to:

• post your items as early as possible in advance of the strike dates
• continue to post your items at post boxes or post offices, however collections will be less frequent on days when strike action is taking place

During strike days, post offices will be open.

Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what’s on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here

READ NEXT:

Holidaymakers travelling to Spain issued warm weather warning

Aldi shoppers obsessed with £1 snack that’s ‘like gold dust’

Little known rule that means children don’t have to go to school

Emmerdale fans thrilled as bosses issue Meena update

Martine McCutcheon supported by celebrity pals amid ‘tricky time’