Postal workers to strike around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, what does this mean for you?

Royal Mail will stage two 48-hour strikes over two major online shopping days after the Communication Workers Union (CWU) rejected the latest pay offer. The union described the most recent offer of pay and programme change a ‘declaration of war on posties’, as per The Guardian.

The dispute is one over pay, jobs and conditions, and the union have already cancelled two strikes this month on the 12 and 14 November, saying instead they wanted to take more ‘proportionate action’.

Workers will strike on 24 and 25 November, on Black Friday, and then again on 30 November and 1 December - just days after Cyber Monday.

Pay demands

Workers are not happy with the current pay offer, when inflation is at a 40-year high. A Royal Mail spokesperson said, in a BBC report:

Royal Mail proposed a new pay-for-change offer to the CWU worth 9% over two years, despite making a loss of £219m in the first half of the year.

In addition to discontent over pay, the union also has objected to changes in working conditions. The CWU’s general secretary Dave Ward said the strikes are also a protest at widespread changes, including ‘introducing Uber-style owner-drivers, mail centre closures and changes to Sunday working.’ as per the BBC.

Delays expected

With two strikes occurring in such close proximity to major sale events, delays must be expected due to the backlog of mail however a Royal Mail spokesperson stated, as per the BBC:

We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience the CWU's continued strike action will cause. We are doing all we can to minimise delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected", they added.

The Royal Mail website describes in a list what they will attempt during days of national strike:

• We will deliver as many Special Delivery and Tracked 24 parcels as possible
• We will prioritise the delivery of COVID test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible
• We will not be delivering letters (with the exception of Special Delivery)

It’s possible this is not the last of the strike action either, with Ward stating until Royal Mail chief executive accepts the union’s concern or leaves his position, ‘serious disruption will continue’, as per The Guardian.

Sources used:

- BBC 'Royal Mail postal workers to strike on Black Friday'

- The Guardian'Royal Mail workers to stage 48-hour strikes in pay dispute'

- Royal Mail'Services during Industrial Action'