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oyal Mail workers are set to strike in November and December, causing disruption to the delivery of Christmas letters and parcels.
It’s always important to be aware of the final Christmas posting dates, but even more so this year amid the industrial action in the run-up to the festive period.
To ensure your loved ones receive their letters and gifts on time, find out below when Royal Mail staff are striking and the dates you need to post your parcels.
When are Royal Mail workers striking?
Royal Mail workers will strike today, November 30 and tomorrow, December 1, following another strike that took place over November 24 and 25.
The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) said its members would also walk out on December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23, and 24.
The strike will impact workers who collect, sort, and deliver parcels and letters.
When are the last days to post before Christmas?
To ensure your Christmas letters and parcels arrive in time for Christmas, they need to be posted by the following dates:
- Royal Mail Bulk Mail Economy: Friday, December 16
- 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For, Royal Mail 48: Monday, December 19
- 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail 24, Royal Mail Tracked 48: Wednesday, December 21
- Special Delivery Guaranteed, Royal Mail Tracked 24: Thursday, December 22
- Special Delivery Guaranteed with Saturday Guarantee: Friday, December 23
However, the Royal Mail strikes may affect these Christmas posting dates. To ensure your gifts arrive on time, post them as soon as possible.
How to get parcels delivered during the strikes
No parcels and letters will be delivered during strike days unless they are sent by special delivery, according to Royal Mail.
Medical prescriptions, Covid tests, and Tracked 24 packages will also be given priority on these days. Minor delays are still to be expected.
If you use Royal Mail for your business shipping, you could look for an alternative courier service to use during the strikes, so your sales aren’t affected, such as Parcelforce.
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Why are Royal Mail workers striking?
For example, the majority of cleaners who received the Real Living Wage adjustment in April didn’t receive an annual pay rise. Instead, 10 per cent of cleaners were offered a 50p-an-hour pay increase, according to the CWU.
Royal Mail responded by saying the CWU had ignored an offer for talks facilitated by Acas, the arbitration service.
“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,” said a spokesperson for the Royal Mail.
“Royal Mail is losing £1m a day and must change faster in response to changing customer demands. We operate in a competitive market, and our customers have choices.”
The company said strikes will make its financial situation worse and apologised to customers for the inconvenience.
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