On what is one of the busiest days of the year it looks like Royal Mail staff are set to strike for six days in December and that includes Christmas Eve.
The long-running strikes are disputing pay, working conditions and working conditions. The strikes were announced yesterday (17th November) by the postal union Communication Workers Union (CWU), the BBC reports. The union represents 115,000 postal workers in the UK.
Staff are due to walk out on 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24 December after strikes in August and September. This is in addition to strikes already notified for November 24, 25 and 30, and December 1.
A CWU spokesperson said in a statement: “The CWU want a negotiated settlement with Royal Mail Group and will continue to engage the company to that end.
“But those in charge of Royal Mail need to wake up and realise we won’t allow them to destroy the livelihoods of postal workers.”
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Online shoppers hoping to send Christmas cards and gifts might be hit hard and it’s something to keep in mind when sending gifts over the Christmas period.
The CWU’s Royal Mail workers voted by 97.6% in a national strike ballot to take action over pay.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Our preference is for an agreement with the CWU but the change we need is not optional.
“They should be focused on a resolution to this dispute for their members and the long-term health of the business, rather than damaging strike action.”
The Royal Mail is planning sweeping changes to the way its business operates but the CWU warned this will turn well-paid jobs into a “casualised financially precarious workforce”.
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