Royal Mail workers across the UK will strike for two days at the end of this working week. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are set to walk out on Thursday, September 8 and Friday, September 9 as part of ongoing disputes over pay.
This comes after industrial action began on August 26 before continuing on August 31. After limited post was delivered through Royal Mail on previous strike days, more disruption is anticipated this week, with the amount of post being delivered set to be restricted and prioritised.
Having had an unagreed 2% pay deal imposed on their Royal Mail members, the CWU said: “This is at a time when RPI inflation is currently running at 11.8% and when Royal Mail has announced Group profits of £758 million and when the company is paying out many millions to private shareholders.” The CWU added: “The pay dispute is not complicated.
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“Our members are striking for a pay rise that fully addresses the current cost of living. Our members need it, our members deserve it – the company can afford it.”
When are the next postal strike dates?
The next planned strike for Royal Mail workers is on Thursday, September 8. The action will last for two days as further strikes will take place the following day, on Friday, September 9.
Will post still be delivered on postal strike days?
Despite Royal Mail having a “contingency plan” in place, disruption to parcel and letter delivery is anticipated. The majority of post offices should remain open, but a limited service is expected to run.
Prioritising its services, the Royal Mail said it will attempt to deliver:
Special Delivery and Tracked24 parcels
Covid test kits and medical prescriptions
Special Delivery letters
Letters or parcels with standard first or second class postage will not be delivered, while delivery of all Special Delivery items “by 9am or 1pm next day” is not guaranteed for items posted either on strike days or the day before. The Royal Mail added that compensation will not be able to be claimed for items which are delayed during this period, while Tracked24 items will be treated as priority for delivery.
Although collections will be less frequent, people are being advised to continue to post their items at post boxes or post offices, although the subsequent deliveries will inevitably be delayed. Royal Mail continued: "We want to get services back to normal as quickly as possible after any strike action.
“After industrial action takes place, we'll be increasing our network capacity and using additional resources to assist with getting services back to normal. Collections from business customers, Post Offices and post boxes will resume the day after strike action finishes.
“Deliveries will also resume the day after strike action finishes. This will include accelerating the delivery of NHS and healthcare letters and critical Government mailings in the days following strike action."
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