Royal Mail Strikes
What does this mean for your business?
Published 28th March 2023
Amid strike pandemonium, Royal Mail executives threaten to go out of business.
As negotiations with the leaders of the striking unions become more tense, Royal Mail executives have threatened to throw the losing postal service into administration.
If a compromise agreement cannot be reached, the corporation has threatened to put the regulated portion of the business—which is legally required to carry mail to every address in the nation—into a special form of insolvency.
The company’s management has previously claimed that it is losing £1 million every day, and that strikes by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are to blame for the £295 million operating loss it experienced in the first nine months of its fiscal year.
According to reports from the Guardian, the CWU is about to launch additional strike action when the threat to put the postal service into administration was made.
Published 25th March 2023
Further Royal Mail strikes could be called by CWU union leaders.
If they can’t reach an agreement with management by the start of next week, postal workers’ union officials have warned that they may shortly launch new strikes by Royal Mail employees. Dave Ward, the general secretary of the CWU union, made the statement on Friday, following weeks of mounting worker resentment over bosses’ attacks.
Managers pushed through workplace reductions on orders from above, combining delivery and collecting rounds into fewer, longer routes. Nonetheless, despite top managers’ assurances that cuts would only be implemented with union rep participation, union leaders refrained from organising.
Ward had thought that a settlement to the protracted disagreement was imminent. But over two weeks after he’d sought to obtain a definitive agreement, managers still hadn’t provided him with anything, in his opinion, workers will accept.
Published 13th March 2023
No dates have been provided regarding new Royal Mail strikes
At this moment in time CWU have confirmed no dates regarding a potential strike. Royal Mail have confirmed talk are on-going.
imail comms will ensure we keep you updated regarding the latest news.
Published 17th February 2023
Plans for additional postal strikes
We are disappointed that the CWU participants who cast ballots chose to engage in additional industrial action.
Royal Mail is still dedicated to finding a solution to this issue and wants to reach a pay and change agreement for our employees.
No dates for more strike action have been set by the CWU.
Royal Mail have strategies in place to minimise interruption and resume normal operations as soon as possible following a strike, keeping people, businesses, and the nation connected, in the event that the CWU does declare additional strike action.
Royal Mail are still dedicated to sitting down with the CWU to resolve this conflict and come to an agreement on a wage and benefit package for our employees. Customers, Royal Mail, and its staff will all benefit from this.
Published 7th February 2023
Postal strike ended following Royal Mail’s legal protest
The CWU has cancelled their scheduled strike action for February 16 and 17, according to the Royal Mail website.
The CWU says that its strike notification contained a mistake.
As and when we obtain new information regarding upcoming postal strikes, we will update this page.
Published 3rd February 2023
An update on the February postal strikes
The CWU has announced that a postal strike will take place on February 16 and 17, 2023.
A 24-hour postal strike by Royal Mail employees who pick up, process, and deliver packages and mails will take place from 12.30 p.m. on February 16 until 12.30 p.m. on February 17 in 2023.
As a result, this will probably have an effect on Thursday’s collections and processing as well as Friday’s deliveries.
Check out the most recent Royal Mail news.
Published 27th January 2023
Update on Royal Mail and CWU
We appreciate the CWU’s decision to resume facilitated negotiations through Acas. To ensure the survival of the business and the long-term employment of its employees, Royal Mail is dedicated to coming to a resolution to the present pay and change conflicts. The discussions started on January 9 and are still going on.
Published 5th January 2023
Exist any other postal strikes?
We are closely monitoring any prospective postal strikes in January in light of the December postal strikes.
There are no scheduled postal strikes in January 2023, hence the question “when are the next postal strikes?” cannot be answered.
The CWU has stated that “additional action will take place in 2023,” though. Members will vote on the possibility of fresh strikes that would impact Royal Mail services.
Any confirmed strikes by the Royal Mail in 2023 will be updated on this page.
Published 10th December 2022
Prior to Christmas, the CWU confirms postal strike dates.
The CWU has officially informed Royal Mail that they want to call on their members—who collect, sort, and deliver packages and letters—to participate in a nationwide strike action on December 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 23, and 24 of 2022.
Although Royal Mail has well-developed backup systems, they are unable to completely replace the daily efforts of their frontline staff. We apologise for the potential interruption this planned strike action may cause, but we’ll try our best to keep the services functioning.
Update on Royal Mail and CWU
After several months of negotiations facilitated by ACAS between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union, Royal Mail has shared its best and last offer for compensation and policy change. The amended offer incorporates significant advancements made during the CWU discussions, such as an upgraded pay package of 9% over 18 months and a number of other terms and agreement concessions. The offer is contingent upon reaching a change-management agreement with the CWU.
Royal Mail are pleading with the CWU leadership to accept the modification and salary offer and end any further disruptive strikes for the benefit of Royal Mail’s clients and employees. We apologise for any difficulty that the CWU’s ongoing strike action will cause to our customers.
To keep people, businesses, and the nation linked and to reduce delays, we are doing everything we can.
Published 5th December 2022
Royal Mail has moved up its last post dates before Christmas.
Royal Mail has advanced the most recent suggested posting dates for UK and international services before the holiday season in light of the CWU’s scheduled strike action.
UK
2nd Class / 2nd Class Signed For Royal Mail 48 – 12th December 2022
1st Class / 1st Class Signed For / Royal Mail 24 / Tracked 48 – 16th December 2022
Royal Mail Tracked 24 – 19th December 2022
Special Delivery Guaranteed – 21st December 2022
Read more information and international last post dates.
Published 29th November 2022
More postal strikes by Royal Mail in the run-up to Christmas
Six days leading up to Christmas, including Christmas Eve—one of their busiest days of the year—will see Royal Mail employees on strike.
The events are scheduled for December 9th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 23rd, and 24th.
This is in addition to the four days for late November and early December that have already been announced, which will affect the Black Friday shopping period.
Keep up with the most recent Royal Mail news.
Published 5th November 2022
Updates on the postal strike
The CWU has declared that it is cancelling the 12th and 14th of November 2022 countrywide strike action.
The CWU has announced that they will be urging their members to go on strike on November 24, 25, 30, and December 1, 2022.
Although the CWU must give 14 days’ notice before going on strike, these dates have not yet been formally verified.
Published 30th October 2022
There will be no strikes this week.
The CWU has cancelled the scheduled industrial action for this week, according to Royal Mail. This means that CWU-affiliated employees of Royal Mail will no longer go on strike on the second, third, or fourth of November 2022.
The notification, which was issued on the Royal Mail website on October 30, also stated that strikes scheduled for November 8th, 9th, and 10th, 2022, would also be cancelled.
This means that imail comms clients may now anticipate regular mail deliveries and pickups as well as the absence of any mail service interruptions due to labour disputes.
Published 25th October 2022
Postal strikes at Royal Mail in early November
Employees of Royal Mail who are CWU members will go on three days of strike action in early November. The dates are November 2 (Wednesday), November 3 (Thursday), and November 4 (Friday).
We at imail comms will be operating normally throughout these times, and based on the facts at hand, we anticipate that mail pickups will continue from our facility on each of the three strike days.
But, delays in mail delivery are likely in the days that follow as a result of the strike action and the network’s need to catch up.
Regrettably, we are powerless to stop this strike. In the event that we learn new information from Royal Mail, however, we will inform clients of any modifications to our services.
Published 12th October 2022
Additional information regarding the postal strikes in October
The next round of strike action, according to Royal Mail, will take place tomorrow Thursday, October 13, 2022.
Moreover, the strike will be in effect on Thursday, October 20, and Tuesday, October 25, 2022.
“We’re doing what we can to keep services running, but customers should expect severe interruption,” reads the most recent Royal Mail announcement on its website.
Regrettably, imail comms has no power to change the strike decision. However, we continue to operate as usual and maintain continuous touch with our clients and mail carriers in order to minimise sending delays whenever possible.
Published 28th September 2022
There will be postal strikes in October 2022.
The CWU has proposed additional strike action with its members during October, November, and December, according to the most recent information about the postal strikes.
To prevent industrial action, Royal Mail is prepared to start discussions with the union.
proposed dates for CWU strike action
National action
Thursday 13th October
Thursday 20th October
Tuesday 25th October
Monday 28th November
Functional action (parts of Royal Mail operations only):
Network: 2nd, 8th, 14th, 23rd, 30th November
Processing, area distribution, international, collections, admin, MDEC: 3rd, 9th, 15th, 24th November and 1st December
Deliveries: 4th, 10th, 16th, 25th November and 2nd December
Published 21st September 2022
Will there be a strike by Royal Mail this month?
We assured you that we would keep you informed of the dates of the Royal Mail strikes.
According to the most recent CWU strike information, the postal strikes scheduled for September 30 and October 3 will proceed as scheduled.
Will the mail be delivered on days when there are strikes?
Anything sent the day before, during, or after the strike action will experience delays, according to Royal Mail.
Nonetheless, there will be a boost in network capacity and more resources to help restore regular service.
After the strikes are over, collections from commercial clients, Post Offices, and post boxes will resume. After the industrial action, deliveries will also begin, including accelerated NHS and healthcare letters and crucial Government mailings.
Published 8th September 2022
Postal strike by Royal Mail is suspended following the death of the Queen.
With the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, on Thursday, 8 September 2022, the CWU, the union representing Royal Mail postal workers, called off the strike action scheduled for today, Friday, 9 September 2022. Her and her family are being honoured by the cancellation of the strike.
David Ward, the CWU’s general secretary, remarked,
“The union has decided to cancel the scheduled strike action for tomorrow in honour of the Queen’s service to the nation and her family and in response to the very sad news of her passing.”
Has the strike already had an impact on post?
On Thursday, September 8th, 115,000 Royal Mail employees went on a 48-hour strike, disrupting mail operations throughout the UK.
The second day of the scheduled strike has been cancelled by CWU. But, Royal Mail anticipates a sizable interruption to occur. It apologises for the trouble that was created.
When will the Royal Mail be on strike?
Members of the CWU have suggested new times for industrial action.
The 30th of September and the first of October 2022 are scheduled as postal strikes.
If information about Royal Mail strikes comes in, we’ll keep you informed. For up-to-date information on the postal strikes, keep checking this page.
Published 31st August 2022
After a vote to begin industrial action, 115,000 postal workers began the first of four days of postal strikes on Friday, August 26.
The following postal strike is scheduled for August 31, 2022, on that day.
While this is going on, imail comms will continue to cooperate with DSA supplier Whistl in order to minimise inconvenience. When postal services are resumed, Whistl will process and collect client mail, delivering it to the Royal Mail regional distribution centre where it will be ready for delivery.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused for our customers, but we are powerless to influence how Royal Mail operates.
Published 9th August 2022
The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents employees of the Royal Mail Group, declared four days of strike action in August and September of 2022.
Why are Royal Mail employees on strike?
In what is being called the largest strike of the summer thus far, postal workers are striking over pay.
The announcement comes after the CWU’s ballot for strike action, in which members chose to act in support of a “dignified, adequate pay hike” by 97.6% on a 77% turnout. The workers turned down the 2% salary increase that was offered.
Only a few weeks ago, a different union, Unite, announced that 2,400 Royal Mail managers who are among its members will not participate in a strike between July 20 and 22. This came after a vote in which returning to discussions received support from the majority.
According to a union representative, the imposition will dramatically lower workers’ living conditions in an environment where inflation is predicted to surge to 18% by January 2023.
When are the Royal Mail postal strikes?
Sadly, as a result of the CWU officially announcing that Royal Mail employees will strike, we anticipate a nationwide disruption of Royal Mail services. During and immediately following these strike action days, disruptions and service delays may occur;
Friday 26th August
Wednesday 31st August
Thursday 8th September
Friday 9th September
What will happen to postal deliveries?
Royal Mail issued a Service During Industrial Action update in response to the CWU strike action notice, saying that:
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this strike action is likely to cause you. We want to reassure you that we will take all reasonable steps to limit inconvenience and restore our services as quickly as we can.”
Although Royal Mail has well-developed backup procedures, they are unable to completely replace the daily efforts of its frontline staff. Although we will do everything in our power to maintain service, customers should anticipate substantial inconvenience.
David Ward, the CWU’s general secretary, remarked,
“No one makes the choice to strike lightly, but postal employees are at their breaking point.”
Will I be affected by the postal strikes?
There is presently no official update on the network’s impact, despite the CWU’s claim that the strike will be nationwide. imail comms will discuss specifics of our contingency measures with our clients whenever Royal Mail provides additional information about the precise impact.
In the interim, the links below provide additional details about the Royal Postal strike:
Royal Mail workers begin four-day strike as 115,000 walk out (Evening Standard)
Date of CWU Strike Notice (Royal Mail Website)
The largest strike of the summer will see 115,000 postal workers walk out (CWU Website)
We will continue to keep a careful eye on this situation, and should any new developments have an impact on our clients, we’ll get in touch with you right away.
Tips to minimise the impact of postal strikes
Organise ahead of time. Any information on potential labour unrest affecting postal services will be updated on this page. Keep up with announcements by bookmarking and revisiting the page.
Maximise the time spent mailings. We are aware that sending mailings earlier isn’t always possible, especially if they are time-sensitive. To stay ahead of the September strikes, a third-party hybrid mail provider like imail comms can assist in freeing up internal workers so that they can prepare mail more quickly or benefit from same-day printing and despatch.
Looking to automate your outbound mail?
You may automate the creation and delivery of your outbound mail with the aid of imail comms Hybrid Mail.
The integrated platform for multichannel communications is simple to use, secure, GDPR compliant, and quick to set up. All the documents you typically print and ship by hand are handled by imail comms Hybrid Mail. We will print and ship your data and documents when you upload them from anywhere.
You don’t need additional internal staff or resources to prepare mailings and get ahead of predicted disruptions brought on by postal strikes because imail comms prints and ships your post on the same working day.
Additionally, even on strike days, we pre-sort mail on-site and collaborate with a Downstream Access (DSA) provider to collect and deliver it to the Royal Mail Inward Mail Centers. This implies that when the Royal Mail delivery services restart, the mail you sent via our imail comms Hybrid Mail service will have already entered the postal system.
Efforts we are doing to help you
In order to handle your mail as quickly as possible and to minimise any disruptions, imail comms is collaborating closely with Royal Mail Retail, Royal Mail Wholesale, and our Downstream Access (DSA) mail carrier.
You can help where you can by delivering your data files in advance so that we can send out as much mail as we can on the days before these strikes, preventing delays during the strike and a subsequent backlog in processing.
As normal, our courier will collect DSA mail and deliver it to the receiving Royal Mail incoming mail centres (where we understand there should be limited staff working). Afterward, when the striking employees resume work, this correspondence will be processed.
Unfortunately, Royal Mail has stated that they will prioritise processing parcels above letters because they take up the most space in the inbound mail centres.
Rest assured that we are making every effort to limit any interruption during this strike, and we’ll keep you informed if anything changes regarding the most recent advice and information. Please get in touch with your assigned imail comms Account Manager if you have any questions.
Here you may find the most recent news from the Royal Mail Group: https://www.royalmail.com/latest-news.
Kind regards,
David Lee
Client Director
imail comms