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Royal Mail staff are joining the likes of train workers and nurses in staging strikes in the UK this week.
On Monday, the Government held an emergency Cobra meeting to address the walkouts, with minister Oliver Dowden urging unions to call off the industrial action, saying: “I don’t think most people think it’s fair and reasonable to undertake these strikes.”
Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have held a series of walkouts over the past few months, and the dispute over pay, jobs and conditions has continued into December.
Here’s when the next postal walkout is taking place, the full list of strike dates and how Royal Mail services are affected.
When is next postal strike?
The next Royal Mail strike starts on Wednesday 14 December, and is a 48-hour walkout which also includes Thursday 15 December.
These dates followed industrial action on Friday 9 December and Sunday 11 December.
There is a further two-day strike planned by workers from Friday 23 December to Saturday 24 December.
The dates have sparked warnings from workers that many customers may not get their Christmas cards and parcels delivered on time, with post piled high at sorting offices.
More than 100,000 employees are thought to have been involved in the latest round of strikes, which covers the workers who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters.
Why are Royal Mail workers striking?
The CWU, whose members voted with a 97.6 per cent majority to take industrial action over pay, states on its website: “The pay dispute is not complicated.
“Our members are striking for a pay rise that fully addresses the current cost of living. Our members need it, our members deserve it – the company can afford it.”
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 included “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.
More on Strikes
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: “Royal Mail bosses are risking a Christmas meltdown because of their stubborn refusal to treat their employees with respect.
“Postal workers want to get on with serving the communities they belong to, delivering Christmas gifts and tackling the backlog from recent weeks.
“But they know their value, and they will not meekly accept the casualisation of their jobs, the destruction of their conditions and the impoverishment of their families.”
“We are disappointed that instead of reaching a compromise to avoid major disruption, Royal Mail have chosen to pursue such an aggressive strategy.”
Is there post on Royal Mail strike dates?
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 postboxes – should resume the day after each strike takes place.
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