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Royal Mail workers will stage two 48-hour strikes around Black Friday and Cyber Monday as a long-running row over pay, jobs and conditions continues.
The action could have a significant effect on consumers, with these being two of the busiest shopping days of the year, coming less than a month before Christmas.
However, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has called off a number of walkouts planned for the first half of the month, including action on the 12 and 14 November.
Here’s when the strikes will take place and how post will be affected.
When are the Royal Mail strikes?
Royal Mail workers are set to strike on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 November – known as Black Friday.
They plan to walk out again on Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December. Cyber Monday is on 28 November.
These strikes are likely to affect deliveries during the year’s most popular shopping period, when many high-street and online retailers offer discounts.
A series of smaller Royal Mail strikes have been planned by various groups and teams represented by the CWU in November and December.
While these are not expected to cause such widespread disruption, the CWU has warned that there will be a knock-on effect on deliveries.
Some of these smaller-scale strikes has been cancelled, with the union saying it wants to take more “proportionate” action. However, the following walkouts remain:
- Processing, distribution, international, collections and admin workers: Tuesday 15, Thursday 24 November and Thursday 1 December;
- Delivery workers: Wednesday 16, Friday 25 November and Friday 2 December;
- Network workers: Wednesday 23 and Wednesday 30 November.
No further strike dates are currently organised in the run-up to Christmas, but the CWU has warned the action could be extended if the dispute is not settled.
Is there post on Royal Mail strike dates?
The most significant effect on national strike dates is that Royal Mail will not be delivering any letters, except for those sent by Special Delivery.
Special Delivery parcels are also being prioritised, though Royal Mail adds: “However, we cannot guarantee delivery of all items by 9am or 1pm next day.”
Royal Mail has also promised to “prioritise the delivery of Covid test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible” when strikes are taking place, alongside other Tracked24 parcels.
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 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.
The majority of Post Offices are expected to be open on the dates walkouts are taking place, although a small number will be affected by the CWU action.
Postal deliveries – and collections from businesses, post offices and post boxes – should resume the day after each strike takes place.
Why are Royal Mail workers striking?
The CWU described an offer on pay and conditions made by Royal Mail as a “surrender document”, saying it involved attacks on terms and conditions as well as redundancies.
Dave Ward, CWU general secretary, said industrial action would continue in the run-up to Christmas unless the dispute was resolved.
He said previously: “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.
“Postal workers across the UK now face the fight of their lives to save their jobs and the service they provide to every household and business in the UK.”
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A Royal Mail spokesman said: “On Monday 31 October, Royal Mail proposed a new pay-for-change offer to the CWU worth nine per cent over two years, despite making a loss of £219m in the first half of the year.
“The CWU have been in talks with us and claim they are open to change but they now need to show it. Instead, the CWU have announced four days of strike action which will damage our business further at our busiest time of year.
“The CWU is playing a dangerous game with its members’ jobs and the future of Royal Mail. We urge CWU to withdraw these strikes for the good of our customers and our people.
“We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience the CWU’s continued strike action will cause. We are doing all we can to minimise delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected.”
The strikes come as Royal Mail reported pre-tax losses of £127m for the 26 weeks to 25 September. That compared with profits of £315m a year ago.
The company says the strike action has cost it £100m, with lower parcel volumes also to blame for the financial struggles.
Royal Mail has approached the Government about cutting letter deliveries to five days a week instead of the current six.
A government spokesperson said there are “no current plans to change the universal service”.
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