Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know by now that the Royal Mail is due to go on strike on December 19th, 2012. This is a very big deal as it will impact the delivery of all sorts of parcels, and collections from post offices. Here’s a look at what you should expect.
Collections from Post Offices will be limited
During the next two months, collections from Royal Mail Post Offices will be limited. Despite this, you can still send parcels from your postbox. It will cost you just 72p to post a parcel using this service, which is a significant savings on the cost of standard postage.
There are some ways that you can reduce the cost of sending your item, including delivering it on a Saturday or sending it early in the morning. You can also avoid having to wait for a delivery at all by posting it ahead of time.
You can also send your items to a parcel drop-off point, such as Tesco’s. However, you’ll have to pay for that delivery.
For the best deals, you may want to consider picking up your parcels at a post office. During the strike, this may not be possible as many of the locations will be closed.
The Royal Mail will not deliver letters to your door, but they will collect up to five parcels a day. They will also offer a tracking service, which isn’t available during the strike. Also, Visit this
Delivery of parcels will be delayed
During Royal Mail postal strikes, customers should expect delivery delays. Parcel deliveries will be delayed and post offices may be closed. However, there are ways to reduce the impact of these delays.
Royal Mail has advised customers to send cards and gifts earlier than usual. The postal service is working hard to keep the services running smoothly. They have also brought forward the recommended posting dates for UK and international services.
It is also important to note that most non-mail transactions will not be affected. If you need to check whether or not your Royal Mail parcel will be delivered, you can call the customer service line on 03457 740 740.
The postal service is facing a wave of industrial action this year, and there are fears that the strike could affect delivery times. The Communication Workers Union, which represents 115,000 workers, is leading the walkouts. The union is calling for higher pay. It is also fighting a new set of performance standards.
Final suggested dates for sending second class post to 12 December from 19 December
During a series of strikes, the Royal Mail has made a few tweaks to its last posting dates. These include bringing the last day to post first-class delivery forward by five days. During the strike, second-class mail will also be delayed by at least six days.
For the uninitiated, the best way to get a package delivered in time for Christmas is to have it sent via special delivery. Royal Mail does offer tracked delivery services, but this isn’t available at most Post Office branches. The company will be delivering as many special delivery items as possible during the strike.
During the strike, Royal Mail isn’t sure how much of its usual mail will be affected. During the strikes, the company stepped up its game by hiring thousands of agency workers to help process the backlog. While the company doesn’t offer compensation for late deliveries, some services at the Post Office will remain as normal.
Royal Mail’s “aggressive” stance
Hundreds of Royal Mail workers are set to stage a series of strikes over the next few weeks. These could last for up to 16 days. These strikes are likely to disrupt normal deliveries of Christmas parcels.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) says the latest pay offer from the company represents a devastating blow to postal workers’ livelihoods. The union has rejected the offer and has threatened further industrial action.
The offer from Royal Mail is described by the union as “wholly inadequate”. The CWU says it represents a significant real-term pay cut. It claims that the proposed changes to the terms and conditions will turn the company into a gig economy-style courier, giving more freedom to employers. It is also said that the offer includes thousands of compulsory redundancies.
In addition, a new profit share scheme is proposed. It will involve the introduction of technology to monitor workers and the removal of the CWU from the workplace. The CWU has also warned that the company’s proposals would result in a significant reduction in sick pay.