Royal mail planned strikes

Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, has been facing significant challenges in recent years, including declining mail volumes, increased competition from private courier services, and rising costs. In response to these challenges, Royal Mail has been negotiating with its trade unions to address issues such as pay, working conditions, and job security.

Unfortunately, the negotiations have not been successful, and Royal Mail has announced a series of planned strikes by its postal workers. Here are the details:

Strike dates:

  1. February 2023: Royal Mail has announced a 48-hour strike by its Communication Workers Union (CWU) members, starting on February 8th and ending on February 10th.
  2. March 2023: A further 48-hour strike is planned for March 10th and 11th.
  3. April 2023: A third 48-hour strike is scheduled for April 4th and 5th.

Impact on services:

During the strikes, Royal Mail has warned that its services will be severely disrupted, including:

Why are the strikes happening?

The strikes are a result of disagreements between Royal Mail and the CWU over several key issues, including:

  1. Pay: Royal Mail has offered a 2% pay rise, while the CWU is demanding a 10% increase.
  2. Job security: The CWU is concerned about the impact of automation and job losses on postal workers.
  3. Working conditions: The union is seeking improvements to working conditions, including reduced workload and better health and safety measures.

What can you do?

If you rely on Royal Mail services, you may want to consider the following:

  1. Plan ahead: Try to send your mail and parcels before the strike dates to avoid delays.
  2. Use alternative services: Consider using private courier services, such as Parcel Monkey or Hermes, if you need to send items urgently.
  3. Contact your local post office: If you have a specific query or concern, you can contact your local post office for assistance.

Remember that the strikes are a result of ongoing negotiations between Royal Mail and the CWU, and the situation is subject to change.