Royal Mail prospects are struggling supply chaos as 1000’s of postal staff take an additional day of strikes on Friday, with the UK bracing itself for a Christmas of business motion.
Round 11,000 members of the Communication Staff Union (CWU) have been locked in a dispute over adjustments to working situations with Royal Mail and exhibits little signal of being resolved.
The union claims Royal Mail imposed a two per cent pay enhance on members with out session and is ‘refusing’ to deal with staff with respect, based on common secretary Dave Ward.
Royal Mail prospects took to social media to blast the postal service over ready for packages and delayed Christmas presents regardless of ordering them early.
The CWU picket line at Wandsworth supply workplace on December 9, 2022 in London
Royal Mail prospects complained on social media about ready for packages and delayed Christmas presents regardless of ordering them early
One individual mentioned: ‘Why am i seeing folks wait over a month for his or her royal mail package deal… IM WAITING FOR 11 PACKAGES [sic]’.
One other mentioned: ‘While you order Christmas presents within the third week of November after listening to you can purchase your presents early due to the @RoyalMail strikes however its now the ninth December and you continue to have not acquired them. F***in’ mint’.
A 3rd mentioned: ‘Nearly 5 days I have been ready for information on a 8 day delay on a tracked 24 parcel’.
Others mentioned they’d been ready greater than 10 days for parcels to reach whereas one other person mentioned their daughter was ready for ‘her first household image guide’ which had been delayed within the submit.
It comes as Britons are bracing for a strike on daily basis earlier than Christmas as employees from completely different industries search higher pay and dealing situations.
Rail unions have already mentioned they are going to wreak havoc on the prepare community over Christmas, whereas NHS nurses and paramedics are additionally on account of stroll out for a number of days, with fears that troopers should be drafted in to cowl gaps in care.
1000’s of Royal Mail postal staff will stroll out once more on Sunday, with additional motion deliberate all through December together with Christmas Eve.
‘Royal Mail bosses are risking a Christmas meltdown due to their cussed refusal to deal with their staff with respect,’ mentioned CWU common secretary Mr Ward.
Members of the Communication Staff Union (CWU) attended a rally at Parliament Sq., central London, on Friday afternoon
Royal Mail prospects took to social media to blast the postal service over ready for packages and delayed Christmas presents regardless of ordering them early
‘Postal staff need to get on with serving the communities they belong to, delivering Christmas items and tackling the backlog from current weeks.
‘However they know their worth, and they won’t meekly settle for the casualisation of their jobs, the destruction of their situations and the impoverishment of their households.
‘This may be resolved if Royal Mail start treating their staff with respect, and meet with the union to resolve this dispute.’
Some postal staff in Scotland will journey to London to affix round 15,000 of their UK colleagues in what’s being dubbed the most important postal staff demonstration in residing reminiscence.
The Royal Mail Islington Supply Workplace which is closed on account of strike motion. Image date: Thursday December 1, 2022
Earlier this week, the CWU’s Scottish Secretary hit out at Royal Mail, who laid on a breakfast for MSPs within the Scottish Parliament.
He mentioned: ‘Fairly than get again around the desk, senior Royal Mail managers are providing MSPs a free breakfast in an try to legitimise the destruction of our Postal Service.’
A Royal Mail spokesperson mentioned: ‘We spent three extra days at Acas this week to debate what must occur for the strikes to be lifted.
‘Ultimately, all we acquired was one other request for extra pay, with out the adjustments wanted to fund the pay provide.
‘The CWU know full nicely that in a enterprise dropping greater than £1million a day, we have to agree adjustments to the way in which we work in order that we are able to fund the pay provide of as much as 9 per cent we have now already made.
Mick Lynch, the overall secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, and others
‘Whereas the CWU refuses to just accept the necessity for change, it is our prospects and our individuals who undergo. Strike motion has already price our folks £1,200 every.
‘The cash allotted to the pay deal dangers being eaten away by the prices of additional strike motion.
‘The CWU is placing at our busiest time, intentionally holding Christmas to ransom for our prospects, companies and households throughout the nation.
‘We’re doing every little thing we are able to to ship Christmas for our prospects and settle this dispute. Over the past strike days, we delivered greater than 700,000 parcels, and greater than 11,000 supply and processing employees returned to work.
‘We recovered our service shortly, however the process turns into more difficult as Christmas nears.
Asserting the motion, PCS chief Mark Serwotka mentioned the union may escalate industrial motion within the new 12 months until the impasse is damaged and likewise raised the prospect of co-ordinated motion with different unions concerned in disputes
A thousand Border Power passport employees at 5 main airports at present turned the most recent public sector staff to stroll out and destroy the festive plans of tens of millions of Britons. Pictured, Border Power at Gatwick Airport
‘We stay prepared to speak at any time about our greatest and remaining provide and urge the CWU to name off their damaging strike motion.’
Greater than 100,000 PCS members throughout 124 Authorities and public sector workplaces have voted to strike, beginning subsequent week with motorway site visitors officers, driving examiners and Rural Funds Company employees.
It’s going to coincide with two 48-hour walkouts on the railways known as by the RMT union, which can also be set to trigger journey chaos for tens of millions.
Tens of 1000’s of nurses and postal staff may also strike subsequent week, and ambulance employees will stroll out on December 21 and 28.
MailOnline takes a have a look at how your Christmas plans are set to be affected by the strikes.
Nurses – December 15, 20
Nurses are set to stroll out of A&E and can refuse to supply therapy to most cancers sufferers for 2 days this month.
As much as 100,000 nurses will take industrial motion on Thursday, December 15, and Tuesday, December 20, in a row over pay and staffing ranges.
In a proper letter to NHS bosses, the Royal School of Nursing warned it could solely decide to offering ‘life-preserving care’ on strike days. Providers which don’t meet this standards embody hospital discharges, radiotherapy and maternity companies.
The union is demanding the Authorities provide nurses a pay rise of 17.6 per cent, which has been dismissed as ‘unaffordable’ by the Prime Minister. The default place will likely be that nurses will stroll out of A&Es until belief bosses persuade them they can’t ship a secure service with out them.
Nurses are required by legislation to keep up a minimal staffing stage to maintain sufferers secure.
Due to this fact, some nurses will likely be exempt from the strike to supply this minimal stage of service. The precise numbers remaining on the job will likely be negotiated domestically between the RCN and every NHS Belief/Board.
Earlier strikes by NHS employees have led to the cancellation of non-emergency ops and appointments. In case your appointment is already scheduled for days the place motion takes place, it might be cancelled as a result of it’s in all probability not labeled as pressing. Whether or not a person appointment is axed or not will depend upon if the date falls on a strike motion day, and if nurses on the belief are strolling off the job.
One other issue is how lengthy the dispute between the Authorities and the union runs.
Some appointments not on strike days might also be delayed as a result of extra pressing procedures cancelled have to be prioritised.
The RCN handbook says nursing provision throughout the strike needs to be equal to the skeleton staffing for Christmas Day, though the NHS says it has well-tested procedures to restrict disruption.
Emergency nurses in A&E and intensive care will maintain working, as will district nurses who assist aged folks in the neighborhood. Different exemptions will likely be negotiated at an area stage.
Ambulance staff – December 21, 28
GMB, Unite and Unison confirmed their members will stroll out from 9 of England’s ten ambulance companies, plus Wales, on December 21. The one NHS ambulance belief unaffected will likely be East of England. Ambulance staff represented by GMB may also strike on December 28.
The GMB members will strike on the:
- South West Ambulance Service;
- South East Coast Ambulance Service;
- North West Ambulance Service;
- South Central Ambulance Service;
- North East Ambulance Service;
- East Midlands Ambulance Service;
- West Midlands Ambulance Service;
- Welsh Ambulance Service; and
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
NHS ambulance trusts affected by strike motion will draw up plans detailing the variety of employees they imagine they want on to be able to present ‘life and limb’ cowl. These will likely be offered to unions with particulars more likely to be confirmed over the following week. Unions anticipate the extent of canopy requested by some trusts might be larger than that offered on some non-strike days, given underlying employees shortages.
Unison, Unite and GMB will agree amongst themselves which employees do and don’t work. The Military could also be introduced in to drive ambulances if wanted.
Sufferers dialling 999 might face an extended wait to get via to a name handler however calls will likely be diverted to different areas if essential to restrict delays.
Calls will likely be triaged as standard, with unions pledging to answer ‘life and limb’ calls. Class one calls embody ‘life-threatening’ accidents and diseases, together with incidents the place a affected person’s coronary heart has stopped or they aren’t respiratory. Class two calls are ’emergency’ calls, comparable to coronary heart assaults and strokes.
These with much less important diseases might not obtain an ambulance response and might be informed to make their very own method to hospital or to hunt care elsewhere.
Sufferers who depend on NHS ambulance companies to move them to hospital appointments might also be compelled to make different journey preparations.
Issues have been raised that aged folks ‘might nicely die’ if there isn’t any cowl for journeys and falls throughout ambulance strikes.
Well being Secretary Steve Barclay mentioned there was ‘nonetheless a query’ over whether or not ambulance companies would cowl all emergency callouts throughout strikes. He mentioned officers deliberate to fulfill on Thursday to debate protection of class two callouts – which cowl coronary heart assaults, strokes, epilepsy and burns.
However the minister informed Sky Information that falls tended to return beneath a class three emergency and ‘in the mean time the commerce unions are saying these issues would not be lined’ however ‘the indication from the commerce unions’ is that situations comparable to coronary heart assaults will likely be lined.
Rail staff – December 13-14, 16-17, 6pm on Christmas Eve to 6am on December 27, January 3-4, 6-7
There will likely be a lot of 48-hour prepare strikes throughout the UK this month and additional walkouts in January.
- 13-14 December;
- 16-17 December;
- 24-27 December;
- 3-4 January;
- 6-7 January.
There may also be an time beyond regulation ban throughout the railways from December 18 till January 2, which is able to have an effect on the variety of companies that may run.
The Nationwide Rail just isn’t but exhibiting which rail traces will likely be working companies, however mentioned their timetables will likely be up to date earlier than the strikes happen.
The union represents staff at 14 prepare working firms, so their companies are more likely to be affected:
Nice Western Railway, Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, LNER, Higher Anglia, Cross Nation Trains, South Western, West Midlands Railway, Northern, GTR (together with Thameslink, Southern, Nice Northern and Gatwick Specific), Southeastern, c2c.
Practice drivers’ union Aslef mentioned it has secured a recent six-month mandate for strike motion. It means it might coordinate with the RMT, which has additionally known as strikes from December 24 to 27 and January 3-4 and 6-7, to convey additional chaos to the railways.
Aslef boss Mick Whelan defended threatening extra walkouts regardless of the typical prepare drivers’ wage being £60,000.
He mentioned: ‘Strikes are at all times a final resort. However the intransigent perspective of the prepare firms – with the Authorities performing with malice within the shadows – has compelled our hand.’
Highway upkeep – December 16-17, 22-25, 30-31, January 3-4, 6-7
PCS members engaged on England’s highways have introduced 12 days’ strike motion over Christmas and the New 12 months.
The Nationwide Highways staff, who plan, design, construct, function and preserve the nation’s roads, will participate in a sequence of staggered strikes from 16 December to 7 January.
The motion, which dangers bringing the highway community to a standstill, will coincide with deliberate strikes by RMT members on the railways.
PCS Normal Secretary Mark Serwotka mentioned: ‘We all know our members’ motion may inconvenience travellers who plan to go to their family members over the festive interval, however our members have been positioned on this scenario by a authorities that will not hearken to its personal workforce.
‘With the intense cost-of-living disaster they need to be paid correctly for the essential work they do, holding our roads working secure and free. The federal government is within the driving seat right here – it is ready to cease these strikes by placing cash on the desk.’
Bus staff – December 9-10, 15-17, 23-24
Nearly 1,000 bus drivers employed by Abellio will strike on December 9, 10, 16 and 17.
The motion will primarily have an effect on buses in south and west London. Placing staff will likely be from depots in Battersea, Beddington, Hayes, Southall, Twickenham and Walworth.
A few of the bus strikes have been known as off.
Unite mentioned its members, employed by Metroline, have accepted an 11% pay enhance, which the union mentioned was a ‘vital enchancment’ on the 4% drivers have been initially supplied.
Because of the employees accepting the improved provide, the deliberate strike motion for later this month has been known as off.
Unite common secretary Sharon Graham mentioned: ‘It is a vital victory for our members at Metroline who by standing collectively and being ready to take industrial motion, have secured a tremendously improved pay provide.
‘This pay deal exemplifies how Unite’s dedication to at all times prioritise the roles, pay and situations of its members is delivering noteworthy monetary dividends.’
Unite regional officer Laura Johnson mentioned: ‘From the outset, Unite members have been conscious that Metroline may afford a greater pay rise than it was providing and as soon as our members introduced strike motion, recent negotiations have been held and an improved provide was made.’
Border Power employees – December 23-26, 28-31
Round 1,000 Border Power staff at main airports will go on strike from December 23 to 26 and 28 to 31, the Public and Business Providers (PCS) union mentioned.
In keeping with figures compiled by flight information consultants Cirium, round 2million passengers on 10,000 flights are anticipated to reach on the airports over Border Power strike interval.
RAF personnel have began coaching at Heathrow Airport to step in for placing guards.
The Border Power is accountable, on behalf of the House Workplace, for passport management checks in any respect UK airports. However RAF personnel who’re accustomed to checking journey documentation and questioning passengers will step in.
Coaching started this week, with troops seen shadowing immigration officers at Heathrow’s passenger terminals.
Army personnel are additionally anticipated to face in for placing ambulance drivers and postal staff.
It’s a part of contingency plans which have been drafted by a ‘strikes unit’ inside the Cupboard Workplace.
House Secretary Suella Braverman has urged folks to rethink flying round Christmas as she warned of ‘simple, critical disruption’ for 1000’s if strikes go forward.
In an interview with broadcasters, she mentioned: ‘It is very regrettable that they’ve made this resolution to probably strike over important occasions within the run up and following Christmas because the New 12 months.
‘In the event that they go forward with these strikes there will likely be simple, critical disruption induced to many 1000’s of people that have vacation plans.
‘I actually need to urge individuals who have gotten plans to journey overseas to consider carefully about their plans as a result of they could be impacted.
‘We have got plans in place that may contain, to a level, bringing in a few of our navy colleagues to assist us in quite a lot of roles.
‘In the end I am not prepared to compromise on safety on the border, that is the primary precedence.
‘Which will nicely have an antagonistic influence on comfort for folks, frankly, whether or not it is the time they’ve to attend for flights, or departures, they could be delayed on arrivals and varied journey plans. In the end safety on the border is my primary non-negotiable precedence.’
Heathrow Airport baggage handlers – December 16 from 4am for 72 hours
Passengers at Heathrow Airport will face festive chaos after baggage handlers voted to strike on the second final Friday earlier than Christmas.
Floor handlers employed by a personal contractor on the London airport will strike in a 72-hour row over pay, as Britain prepares itself for a ‘winter of discontent’.
There will likely be round 350 members of Unite who work for Menzies that may stroll out from 4am on Friday December 16.
Passengers have been warned that extra journey chaos looms because the union confirmed that their motion will result in some flight disruption. It’s going to come as faculties break up for Christmas and households look to flee the capital for the festive interval.
Normal secretary Sharon Graham mentioned: ‘Menzies must have a protracted, exhausting have a look at itself.
‘It is a extremely profitable firm, which has made a good pay provide to at least one group of its staff however is not ready to make the same provide to its floor handlers.
‘Unite is solely devoted to defending its members’ jobs, pay and situations.
‘Our members at Menzies will proceed to obtain the union’s full assist.’
Unite mentioned the bottom handlers have been supplied a flat fee enhance – which it branded a real-terms pay reduce.
Royal Mail postal – December 9, 11, 14-15, 23-24
Royal Mail staff will strike on seven days in December, together with on Christmas Eve, in a protracted working dispute over pay, jobs and situations.
The employees will now stroll out on December 23 and 24, along with December 1, 9, 11, 14 and 15, the Communication Staff Union mentioned in an announcement, exacerbating issues that Christmas submit might be severely delayed.
Practically 99 per cent of CWU members voted in favour of strike motion after rejecting a 2 per cent pay deal.
‘The CWU desire a negotiated settlement with Royal Mail Group and can proceed to have interaction the corporate to that finish,’ a spokesperson mentioned.
‘However these in control of Royal Mail must get up and realise we can’t permit them to destroy the livelihoods of postal staff.’
The postal service is seeking to swap from a six-days-a-week letter supply service to 5, protecting Monday to Friday solely, beneath its Common Service settlement.
The group will, nonetheless, look to keep up a seven-day parcel supply service.
Sea ports and Eurostar
The one sea port talked about within the PCS announcement setting out the situation of Border Power strikes was Newhaven, East Sussex, from the place ferry companies function to and from Dieppe, France.
However the union nonetheless has time to disclose that the walkout may also happen in Kent, affecting the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.
That will doubtless trigger extreme disruption.
Eurostar just isn’t affected by the Border Power walkout. However the RMT union has introduced strikes on December 16, 18, 22 and 23 for its members who’re employed as safety employees by non-public contractor Mitie at London St Pancras Worldwide.
The union mentioned the strikes will ‘severely have an effect on’ cross-Channel prepare companies. Eurostar mentioned ‘negotiations between Mitie and the union are ongoing’.
