Online deliveries to suffer as UK postal workers announce strike

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Dec 13, 2016

Post Office workers have announced plans to stage a five day strike in the week leading up to Christmas, which could cause serious disruption to festive deliveries.

But it is unclear just how much disruption will be seen as the Post Office stressed that the strike will only impact 300 of its 11,600 branches, which means that 97% of branches will be unaffected. The company said it will be working hard to minimise consumption and that Royal Mail will not be involved. 

Starting on Monday 19 and including Saturday Christmas Eve, thousands of Post Office staff will be walking out on strike across the UK in the dispute over job security and pensions.

Andy Furey, CWU assistant secretary, sais the blame is "100% down to the intransigence of the company," accusing it of launching "an unprecedented attack on the jobs, job security, and pensions of thousands of hard-working and loyal Post Office workers.”

The union wants Post Office to freeze its closure and privatisation programme and hold off on its planned pensions changes.

With consumers shopping online more than ever and the Post Office being a key channel for deliveries and returns, the strike could affect thousands of Christmas parcels.