Royal Mail workers are to strike over Black Friday with possible further action in the lead up to Christmas.
Employees will take part in two 48-hour strikes over the busiest online shopping days of the year as part of increasing disputes concerning pay, jobs and conditions.
The first period of industrial action will take place over Thursday 24th November, 24 and Black Friday, which falls on November 25. A second walkout has been scheduled on November 30 and December 1, confirmed the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
Strikes for November 12 and 14 have been called off as the union wants to carry out more "proportionate” action, reports Wales Online.
Royal Mail's latest pay and conditions offer from has been described as a "surrender document" by workers who claim it "attacks" conditions surrounding pay and redundancies.
The postal service's latest proposal includes a 7 percent salary increase spread over two years, as well as a 2 percent lump sum payment this year.
The offer will be put to union members in a ballot as CWU bosses plan to recommend rejections. They will also be advised to deliver a vote of no confidence in Royal Mail chief executive Simon Thompson.
Originally an American tradition, Black Friday takes place on the first Friday after Thanksgiving, with many stores offering high promotional discounts on products. This tradition has prompted Cyber Monday sales, which are exclusively online.
CWU general secretary Dave Ward has said British postal workers "face the biggest ever assault on their jobs" in the Royal Mail's History. He also warned that the strikes will continue to occur in the run up to Christmas unless an agreement can be reached.
"On Monday, October 31, Royal Mail proposed a new pay-for-change offer to the CWU worth 9 percent over two years, despite making a loss of £219 million in the first half of the year," said a Royal Mail spokesman.
"The CWU have been in talks with us at Acas and claim they are open to change but they now need to show it."
They continued: "Instead, the CWU have announced four days of strike action which will damage our business further at our busiest time of year. The CWU is playing a dangerous game with its members’ jobs and the future of Royal Mail."
Issuing an apology to customers, Royal Mail have urged the union to withdraw the strikes and said it would attempt to minimise delays.
The CWU's postal executive will meet on November 3 to discuss further action during the Christmas build-up.
Mr Ward said: "Posties are in the fight of their lives against the Uberisation of Royal Mail and the destruction of their conditions. But 115,000 of our members will not just accept this war on their livelihoods and their industry.
"They will never give up the fight to protect this industry and to protect their hard-won working conditions. (Royal Mail chief executive) Simon Thompson has to either accept that or walk away; until he does one or the other, serious disruption will continue."
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