Business advised to plan around expected Royal Mail strike action

Businesses that use Royal Mail's services are urged to plan ahead as strike action is expected to take place this autumn and winter

If you use Royal Mail to deliver your goods you should be aware of planned industrial action that is due to take place on:

• Friday 23 December 2022
• Saturday 24 December 2022

Royal Mail's services will be affected by delays to mail posted the day before, during, or in the days after any strike action.

How to plan for Royal Mail strike action

The Consumer Council has developed a number of tips to help businesses and consumers plan around the expected strike action, including:

• Plan ahead - post items well in advance of planned strike dates
• Consider your needs - do you need to post over the strike period, or can you wait until strike action is over and normal service is resumed?
• Let your recipient know - If you are sending urgent outgoing mail and you think it may be delayed, contact the recipient by telephone or other means to explain the situation.
• Check before purchasing special services - If you are sending something valuable and important by a Special Next Day Delivery service, Royal Mail is unable to guarantee it will not be delayed and you will not be able to claim any compensation.
• Speak to senders about alternatives - If you are expecting urgent and important mail over the strike period contact the sender to find out what alternative arrangements can be made to ensure you receive your items or that you receive vital information on time.
• Know your rights - If you are a consumer and you have bought something online and it is delayed, remember the item should be delivered within the time frame agreed with the retailer. If no time frame is agreed upon, the retailer must deliver at the very latest no more than 30 days from the date of purchase. If the item is not delivered on time, you can return the item, cancel your order and get a refund.

Find the latest news on the Royal Mail strike.

First published 24 August 2022