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Royal Mail are striking again this week as part of a long-running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have held a series of walkouts in recent months, which Royal Mail claims have cost it £100m.
Workers walked out last Thursday and Friday, coinciding with Black Friday, one of the year’s busiest shopping dates.
Here’s everything you need to know about this week’s strikes, and dates for future action.
When are the Royal Mail strikes this week?
The CWU formally notified Royal Mail they are calling on their members who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters to take national strike action.
The first two strike days were Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December.
A series of further strikes have also been planned by the CWU later in December, with the following dates affected:
- Friday 9 December
- Sunday 11 December
- Wednesday 14 December
- Thursday 15 December
- Friday 23 December
- Saturday 24 December
How is post affected on strike days?
Despite “well-developed contingency plans”, Royal Mail has acknowledged that these “cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce”, with significant disruption on strike dates.
The most significant effect is that Royal Mail will not be delivering any letters or parcels on these days, except those sent by special delivery.
Royal Mail has promised to “prioritise the delivery of Covid test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible” when strikes are taking place, alongside other Tracked24 parcels.
Most post offices are expected to be open on the dates walkouts are taking place, although a few will be affected by the CWU action.
But any items posted in postboxes or post offices the day before, during or following strike dates are likely to be subject to delays.
Royal Mail, which has a full, in-depth list of FAQs which you can find here, advises its customers to:
- Post items as early as possible in advance of the strike dates;
- Continue to post items at post boxes or post offices, but be aware collections will be less frequent on days when strike action is taking place.
Postal deliveries – and collections from businesses, post offices and post boxes – should resume the day after each strike takes place.
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Why are Royal Mail workers striking?
On the eve of the latest round of strikes, Royal Mail said it had made its “best and final offer” aimed at resolving the dispute with CWU workers.
The company said that its revised offer includes “extensive improvements” that have been made during the negotiations with the CWU, including an enhanced pay deal of up to 9 per cent over 18 months.
Simon Thompson, Royal Mail’s chief executive, said: “Talks have lasted for seven months and we have made numerous improvements and two pay offers.”
CWU general secretary, Dave Ward, said: “We are disappointed that instead of reaching a compromise to avoid major disruption, Royal Mail have chosen to pursue such an aggressive strategy.”
He added: “These proposals spell the end of Royal Mail as we know it and its degradation from a national institution into an unreliable, Uber-style gig economy company.
“Make no mistake about it, British postal workers are facing an Armageddon moment. We urge every member of the public to stand with their postie, and back them like never before.”
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