Royal Mail December strikes: Latest wave of walkouts begins as union accused of ‘holding Christmas to ransom’

The last Christmas posting date has been brought forward as the latest wave of Royal Mail strikes begins. Posties are set to walkout from centres across the UK today (Wednesday, December 14) and Thursday (December 15), with a dispute over pay and conditions continuing.

The last first class posting date for Christmas has now been brought forward to Friday (December 16). Any items posted on the days before, during or after strike days are likely to be subject to delays as Christmas cards and gifts pile up.

It comes after photos taken 17 hours apart show the same heaps of post left outside a major Royal Mail centre. Scenes of undelivered post were pictured at a mail centre in Bristol on Monday and Tuesday as posties prepared for Wednesday’s walkout.

The Royal Mail insists such scenarios are “typical for this time of year”, but the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have said the mounting piles of post are actually “highly unusual” and “chaotic”. A spokesman for the union said: "Millions of letters and packages are backlogged across the UK as the Christmas mail mounts up.

“The CWU and postal workers want to save Christmas but Royal Mail must step back from their all out assault on our members’ jobs, terms and the service they provide. Simon Thompson (the Royal Mail’s CEO) risks ruining Christmas for millions of people - the ball is in his court.”

When are Royal Mail workers striking in December?