Royal Mail workers to take strike action on Christmas Eve

Royal Mail workers are to strike over Christmas after further industrial action was announced in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Six dates – December 9, 11, 14 and 15, as well as on December 23 and Christmas Eve- have been added to the four days of strike action already planned.

Workers at the Royal Mail will walk out on November 24 and 25, before striking again on November 30 and December 1.

The action will impact on deliveries during Black Friday sales events next week.

Following a breakdown in talks between the Communications Workers Union and the Royal Mail, it now looks likely that strikes could drag on into Christmas.

A spokesperson for the union said: “The CWU want a negotiated settlement with Royal Mail Group and will continue to engage the company to that end.

“But those in charge of Royal Mail need to wake up and realise we won’t allow them to destroy the livelihoods of postal workers.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Our preference is for an agreement with the CWU but the change we need is not optional.

“They should be focused on a resolution to this dispute for their members and the long-term health of the business, rather than damaging strike action.”

Earlier on Friday, the Royal Mail asked the UK Government to allow it to stop delivering letters on Saturdays.

The business is seeking to make the move to a five-day-a-week delivery service, from Monday to Friday only.

Parcel services would continue to run on all days of the week.

An operating loss of £219m was reported by the Royal Mail for the six months to September 25.