Royal Mail strikes could lead to a Christmas without presents

December strikes may lead to serious disruptions to Royal Mail deliveries.

If you’re thinking of ordering some last-minute Christmas gifts you may want to think again. Five more days of strikes are planned for December – including December 23 and Christmas Eve, which are sure to cause some major problems for any late parcels being delivered.

Royal Mail is urging customers to leave enough time to ensure that there is no disappointment on Christmas morning.

These strikes come after disputes surrounding working conditions and pay. These disputes have been occurring since August 2022, although strikers began asking for a pay-rise that is in-line with the rise in the cost of living. This began in February 2022.

Royal Mail have already said that they have made their final offer to workers and claims that it is the best they can do. However, the Communications Workers Union (CWU) represents these 115,000 Royal Mail workers called the offer a “devastating blow” and that they “will not just accept this war on their livelihoods and their industry.”

Simon Thompson, Royal Mail boss, said on BBC Breakfast in November that the CWU “are doing everything they can to destroy Christmas.”

But what do the people think?

Some people are expressing their annoyance with the personal inconveniences that the Royal Mail strikes are causing.

Other people are understanding of the strikes, but are frustrated with the expense of sending parcels and lack of service.

On the other end of the spectrum, other people are rallying around the strikers and have been very vocal about the unfairness that Royal Mail has been showing their workers.

In a recent Instagram poll, 88% of respondents have said that they will be affected by the strikes this Christmas, while 86% are currently waiting for a Royal Mail parcel to be delivered.

These strikes are doing exactly what they were intended to do, and that is to cause as much disruption and attention as possible to force change.

And while this has the potential to work, 62% of people believe that not all demands will be met.

So make sure you get your parcels in the post and your last-minute gifts ordered as soon as possible. Otherwise, there could be a present-sized gap under the tree this year.