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Postal workers for the Royal Mail are currently undergoing industrial action in a row with bosses over pay after Royal Mail imposed a 2% pay increase despite UK inflation being close to 10%
Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Royal Mail workers went on a 48-hour strike on September 30 and October 1, which was the start of 19 walk outs taking place over the course of October and November, due to long-running disputes over pay.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) confirmed the strikes earlier this year, after they were pushed back due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8.
It is a worry to the UK public, with the walk outs ongoing in the run up to the Christmas period.
As Royal Mail workers continue strike action today (October 13), many are questioning when further industrial action will take place over the next month and how their deliveries will be affected.
Here’s everything you need to know:
When will Royal Mail workers go on strike in October?
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Royal Mail workers will continue strike action today (October 13), with other strike dates scheduled to take place later in the month.
The worst days for disruption include Thursday, October 20 and Friday, October 28, with another date scheduled for Monday, November 28.
Around 115,000 Royal Mail staff are staging a walk out over pay and working conditions in what the CWU says is the biggest national strike of any sector this year.
According to the union, the dispute had been sparked by Post Office bosses’ freezing on members’ pay for the 2021/22 financial year, which was then followed up by a 2% pay offer for 2022/23.
A lump-sum of £250 was added to the basic offer, which was then raised to 3% as further strikes during June and the summer went ahead.
Bosses eventually returned with a cash lump-sum of £500 and raised the basic offer to 5%, but the CWU said the cost-of-living surge meant that was still “completely insufficient”.
CWU official Andy Furey said: “In a normal year, pay offers at those kinds of levels would be considered acceptable.
“But when we’ve had the retail price index (RPI) going over 10%, then 11 and up to and beyond 12, there’s no way we can agree to what are, in effect, real-terms pay cuts.”
How will households be affected by the Royal Mail strikes?
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The October strike dates will arguably be the worst for households due to the role of the workers who are taking industrial action
These dates, including November 28, will see delivery and collection staff striking, as well as those who sort parcels and letters.
This means that all deliveries throughout the month of October could face disruption.
However, the Post Office has announced that stores will remain open today.
In a post on Twitter, the Post Office said: “Our branches are open as usual today, however there will be disruption to postage and other services due to Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide strike action. Find out how services are impacted here.”
From November onwards in the run-up to Christmas, there are 15 more dates scheduled for strike action.
Over these dates delivery, admin, distribution and network staff will be taking part in industrial action.
