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Royal Mail is continuing a series of walkouts this week which its workers have declared the “biggest strike in the UK since 2009”.
More than 115,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) took place in the first round of strikes, as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.
Here’s when strikes are taking place this week, how postal services will be affected on the dates and why workers are striking.
When is Royal Mail on strike this week?
Four Royal Mail strikes were scheduled in total, with the first two falling on Friday 26 August and Wednesday 31 August.
The final two are taking place this week on consecutive days:
- Thursday 8 September
- Friday 9 September
Will there be post on Royal Mail strike dates?
Despite “well-developed contingency plans”, Royal Mail acknowledged that these “cannot fully replace the daily efforts of its frontline workforce”, with major disruption to postal services inevitable on strike dates.
The most significant effect is that Royal Mail will not be delivering any letters on these days, except for those sent by Special Delivery.
“We will therefore suspend the next day guarantee for items sent the day before, during strike action and until our services are back to normal.
“Customers will not be able to claim compensation for items which are delayed during this period.”
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.
The majority of Post Offices are expected to be open on the dates walkouts are talking place, although a small number will be affected by the CWU action.
Royal Mail has pledged to increase its network capacity and devote additional resources to ensure services return to normal following strike days.
Postal deliveries – and collections from businesses, Post Offices and post boxes – are set to resume the day after each strike takes place.
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
More on Strikes
Why are Royal Mail workers striking?
Royal Mail has said the CWU union had rejected a pay rise offer “worth up to 5.5 per cent” after three months of talks.
The union is demanding a rise more in line with inflation, which is currently at 9.4 per cent and is expected to reach 13 per cent later this year.
Dave Ward, CWU general secretary, said: “Nobody takes the decision to strike lightly, but postal workers are being pushed to the brink.
“There can be no doubt that postal workers are completely united in their determination to secure the dignified, proper pay rise they deserve.”
He added: “The CWU’s message to Royal Mail’s leadership is simple – there will be serious disruption until you get real on pay,” he said.
Ricky McAulay, operations director at Royal Mail, accused the union of failing to engage in “any meaningful discussion” after months of talks.
“The CWU rejected our offer worth up to 5.5 per cent for CWU grade colleagues, the biggest increase we have offered for many years,” he said.
“In a business that is currently losing £1m a day, we can only fund this offer by agreeing the changes that will pay for it.”
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