Royal Mail workers are set to strike for six days over Christmas, including on Christmas Eve, in a fresh round of industrial action that could spark chaos over the festive period.
The strikes were announced this evening by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents 115,000 posties, who will now walk out.
Online shoppers might be hit hard by the strikes if their Christmas gifts or cards find themselves way-laid by the industrial action.
It comes as a result of a long running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The strikes will come at a time when countless Brits will be getting in their Christmas shopping in the run up to the big day.
Workers will walk out on December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23, and on Christmas Eve as well.
This is in addition to strikes already notified for November 24, 25 and 30, and December 1.
A CWU spokesperson said: “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.”
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".
Some of the changes include gutting sick pay, worse terms for new staff and delaying the arrival of post to the public by three hours the union said.
On Black Friday and Cyber Monday the over 100,000 posties are also due to walk out in their first attempt to press the company into changing their ways, potentially causing more chaos on a key date for retailers.
The CWU previously warned that the Royal Mail had 'declared war' on people's local posties in a heated war of words between the two sides as the company claimed the union was playing a 'dangerous game' with its members' jobs.
Postmen and women are far from alone in taking action. As the cost of living crisis battered the country, criminal barristers, refuse collectors, journalists, airport workers and more have all turned to industrial action.
