People urged to post mail earlier than usual for Christmas as strikes to go on

ROYAL Mail is asking customers to post their post earlier than usual for Christmas this year because of the ongoing strike action by its workers.

The company is bringing forward its latest recommended posting dates for domestic and international mail to help manage any impact from planned strike action by members of the Communication Workers Union on December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24.

The changes are designed to help the company keep mail moving in the run-up to Christmas.

With the threat of more planned Communication Workers Union strike action across the UK, Royal Mail said it continues to deploy a range of contingency plans.

Nick Landon, the firm’s chief commercial officer, said: “The CWU is striking at our busiest time, holding Christmas to ransom for our customers, businesses and families across the country.

“We apologise to our customers for any disruption and delay the CWU strike action is causing. We ask our customers to post early to help us deliver Christmas.”

Final suggested dates for sending second-class post has been brought forward from December 19 to 12 and for first class from December 21 to 16.

Laura Joseph, Post Office customer experience director, said: “December 12 is now likely to be even busier in Post Office branches as customers race to take advantage of the cheaper postage as this is now the last recommended date for sending second-class parcels to arrive for Christmas.

“As soon as you have got your parcels ready to go, don’t wait to come into a branch and get them in the post – many Post Office branches are open long hours and some are open seven days a week, so pop into your local branch and get your gifts sent in time for Christmas.”

In October, Royal Mail said it planned to cut as many as 6,000 jobs over the next year and there could be more redundancies ahead as the industrial dispute gripping the company shows no sign of easing.