ROYAL Mail postal workers will be taking strike action over four days in August and September, but how will your post be affected?
Over 115,000 postal workers announced the series of strikes earlier this month following a dispute over pay, the Communication Workers Union confirmed.
The CWU has said that it will be the biggest strike of the summer so far to demand a “dignified, proper pay rise”.
The Royal Mail responded by saying that the union rejected the offer of 5.5% which was "the biggest increase [they] have offered for many years".
When are the Royal Mail strikes?
Industrial action will be held on the following dates:
- Friday, August 26
- Wednesday, August 31
- Thursday, September 8
- Friday, September 9
The decision to strike came after a recent ballot which saw members vote by 97.6% for the industrial action on a 77% turnout.
How will Royal Mail postal services be affected by the strikes?
Royal Mail has said that it has “well-developed contingency plans” to minimise disruption.
It added that it was "focused on getting mail delivery back to normal as quickly as possible after strike action," but letters will not be delivered in strike day.
The company has apologised to customers but says it has plans to minimise the disruption.
On days when strike action is taking place, Royal Mail says it will:
- Deliver as many Special Delivery and Tracked24 parcels as possible
- Prioritise the delivery of Covid test kits and medical prescriptions
Customers should be aware the items that they post the day before, during the strike or after could be caught up in the delays.
Customers are advised to post items as early as possible in advance of the strike dates and noted that collections will also be less frequent during the strikes.
Royal Mail has added that it cannot guarantee delivery of all special delivery items by 9 am or 1 pm the next day.
It confirmed that it would be suspending its regular guarantees while strike action is occurring.
Royal Mail users can continue to post items at the post box or at the post office but should be aware of the delays.
