news Dates in December and Christmas last posting details

Royal Mail workers are to launch a fresh wave of strikes throughout December in a round of industrial action set to cause misery for millions of households posting gifts in the run

up to Christmas. The walkouts have been organized by the Communication Workers' Union amid a row with the company over pay and working conditions. What dates are the Royal Mail

strikes? The CWU is planning 10 days of strike action, meaning its 115,000 members will stage a walkout on the following dates: Thursday November 24Friday November 25Wednesday

November 30Thursday December 1Friday December 9Sunday December 11Wednesday December 14Thursday December 15Friday December 23christmas eve Will the postal strikes affect Christmas

deliveries? Yes. In particular, strikes taking place on December 23 and Christmas Eve threaten to cause particular havoc for late packages making their way to millions of

households. During the last national strikes in August, the CWU's large representation among staff meant that almost all of the postal network was left crippled, with only the most

essential services and special deliveries still continuing. What is the last date to send Christmas cards and parcels via Royal Mail? Royal Mail is urging customers to “allow

plenty of time” for posting items this year. If you want cards and presents to arrive by Christmas Day, you should post 2nd class items at the latest by December 19while 1st

class should be sent no later than December 21. Special deliveries and tracked guaranteed items should be sent by December 22. Special deliveries with the company's “Saturday

guarantee” can be sent on December 23. Why are Royal Mail workers taking industrial action? The dispute between the postal service and the CWU, which represents more than 100,000

of Royal Mail's 140,000 workers, centers on pay and conditions. In the wake of galloping inflation, the CWU argues that the company's postal workers deserve a pay rise to match

price increases. UK inflation topped 11pc last month, a 41-year high. They are also angry about changes to working conditions that Royal Mail bosses want to make, including a

seven-day-a-week parcel service, reducing letter deliveries to five days, increased automation of parcel and letter sorting and later finishing times, to allow more next day

deliveries. Royal Mail says the company is losing £1m a day and that without radical changes the business has no future. Bosses have threatened layoffs and a potential breakup of

the business if striking workers cannot be brought to heel. What if I am sending post internationally? Then you should allow even more time. Royal Mail says mail to family and