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Royal Mail workers are set to hold 19 days of strike action during peak postal times in the lead up to Christmas. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that strikes over pay and condition disputes will cover Black Friday and Cyber Monday – two of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Posting on Twitter the CWU said: “We have just announced a further 19 days of strike action across Royal Mail Group in the lead up to Christmas. It’s now or never to save the Royal Mail. Our members are going to need you more than ever.”
“Today’s result sends another loud and clear message to the so-called ‘leadership’ of this company that their selfish attitudes will never work,” said the CWU in a statement announcing the strike yesterday, Tuesday, September 27.
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Strike action has been called for 24 hours from 4am on various days starting on Thursday 13 October, taking in Black Friday week and Cyber Monday. The strike action will be taken by all workers on 13, 20, and 25 October, and 28 November.
Different teams and combinations of teams will strike on other dates, but that will have a knock-on effect on all deliveries on those dates, the CWU spokesman said.
The CWU general secretary, Dave Ward, said: “This is a significant announcement, but it is one which matches the level of anger our members feel at the way Royal Mail Group has treated them. 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.”
But a Royal Mail spokesperson told the BBC: “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.
“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.”
The firm has apologised to customers and say they are “doing all we can to minimise any delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected.”
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