When the next postal strikes are in December 2022 and why workers are striking

The next Royal Mail strikes will go ahead later this week following the latest breakdown in talks.

On Tuesday the Communication Workers Union (CWU) tweeted that the walkouts would proceed as planned after negotiations failed to make progress.

Royal Mail workers represented by the union 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 everything you need to know.

When are the next Royal Mail strikes?

The next Royal Mail strike dates will take place on Friday 23 December and Saturday 24 December.

Their timing threatens the bring additional disruption to postal services just before Christmas, Royal Mail’s busiest period of the year.

The walkouts will be the 17th and 18th days of action in the increasingly bitter dispute, with the last 48 hour strike lasting from Wednesday 14 to Thursday 15 December.

More than 100,000 employees are thought to be involved in the strikes, which cover the workers who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters.

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.

Why are Royal Mail workers striking?

The CWU said on Tuesday: “An offer extended to the company to suspend the strikes and establish a period of calm from now until 16 January 2023, as well as the union and the company both signing a joint statement incorporating Royal Mail’s latest promise of no compulsory redundancies, was rejected almost immediately.”

Dave Ward, the union’s general secretary, added: “For Royal Mail Group to reject our offer just hours after receiving it demonstrates that they were never serious about saving Christmas for customers and businesses.”

On its website, the CWU states: “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.”

However, Royal Mail stated previously that 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.

It adds: “We’re urging CWU leadership to accept the change and pay offer, call off future damaging strike action, 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.”

Simon Thompson, Royal Mail’s chief executive, said: “Talks have lasted for seven months and we have made numerous improvements and two pay offers.”