When is the Post Office strike and how will it affect Christmas post? Here’s what we know
POST office workers began a five day walkout today – with thousand of Royal Mail workers threatening to join them.
The delivery staff could take unofficial industrial action at the same time as a separate strike over jobs, pensions and branch closures delaying millions of Christmas presents.
Some 4,000 workers are involved in the walk out which will see 300 post offices close or operate a skeleton service.
When is the strike?
The strike is due to start today with a demonstration outside the headquarters of the Government’s Business Department.
Shop counter staff will walk out on December 19, 20 and Christmas Eve, while cash handlers are preparing to strike on December 22 and 23.
It will involve staff at large high street Crown Post Offices.
The strike is set to last five days in total.
How big is the strike?
Some 4,000 workers are involved in the walk out which will see 300 post offices close or operate a skeleton service.
However, Post Office say 97% of its 11,600 branches will be open and just 3% will close as part of the industrial action.
Kevin Gilliland, the Post Office's network and sales director, said: "It will be business as usual in almost all of our network, with over 50,000 Post Office people on hand to support customers as they make their preparations for Christmas."
reports that postmen and women are expected to refuse to cross the picket line and collect from the strike-hit branches.
A source said the strike would cause “absolute chaos” and have a “huge impact” on services in the run up to Christmas and create a “bottleneck on the system” as customers hoping to post Christmas cards and presents before the final posting dates.
Sources have also said that if the wildcat action lead to punishment from managers the unions may formally vote for strike action.
Why are they striking?
These are the larger branches, usually based on a high street.
Union bosses say the action is necessary to save people's jobs as more than 6,000 Post Office have closed since 2002.
Will it affect Christmas post?
No, according to Royal Mail and the Post Office.
To ensure items reach their destinations for Christmas, second-class letters and parcels should be posted by Tuesday, December 20 - as usual.
First class post must be sent by the following day.
Royal Mail say they will be delivering up to and including Christmas Eve.
Retail giants such as Amazon use private firms to deliver items so again it will not affect your deliveries.
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