Royal Mail workers are to hold 19 days of strike action over pay and terms and conditions during the peak postal build-up to Christmas.

A week before Christmas, one of the busiet times of the year, industrial action will affect Crown Post Offices – the larger branches usually located on High Streets. Staff are walking out which will speed up the demise of this antiquaited business.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said the walkout would start on Monday 19 December and include Christmas Eve in statement. Customers will move their business to alternative providers.

The newly privitised Royal Mail staff have decided to stop working. The Royal Mail workers have voted to go on national 24-hour strike on 4 November. Staff were given free shares in the company only recently.

The government has given formal notice to the stock exchange that it plans to privatise the Royal Mail “in the coming weeks”.

The new Royal Mail will need to compete effectively in the private sector only if the regulator permits competition.

Government plans to sell-off the Royal Mail in the biggest privatisation for 30 years have sparked a mixed reaction in today’s papers.

Key points

• This does not affect the Post Office – although options on mutualisation will be considered. No Post Offices will close.
• A majority stake will be floated on the stock exchange
• The 6 day a week flat rate service is set in stone.
• 10% of shares available for employees, free to the employee, to either give them a cash windfall or a say in how the company is run.

Spoiler Alert

There are some challenges to be overcome. First of all, the Communications Union is already opposed and will no doubt do what they can to disrupt the sale.

The Royal Mail has capped retailers supplies this month to 20% of a retailer’s annual allocation so limiting the number of stamps that can be purchased before the price rise at the end of the month when the cost of a first class stamp rises to 60 pence. Some retailers are running low as customers buy stamps in bulk before the price rise. Demand for stamps has increased after the announcement of the price rises at the end of last month.