Postal workers at International Distributions Services PLC (LSE:IDS) subsidiary Royal Mail are staging two 48-hour strikes that will coincide with two of the busiest online shopping days in the run-up to Christmas, in a dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions.
The strikes will take place on Thursday 24 November and Friday 25 November, known as Black Friday, and two days after Cyber Monday, on Wednesday 30 November and Thursday 1 December, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced.
CWU also said its postal executive will meet on 3 November to discuss new actions in the Christmas build-up.
Strikes planned for this week and next were withdrawn by the union after they agreed to meet with management this week to try and find a deal.
The union said Royal Mail offered a 7% two-year pay offer. Royal Mail said the offer was a 9% 'pay for change' deal.
CWU said it will hold a vote among members to reject the offer, which it described as “derisory” and a “dramatic real-terms pay cut” with inflation having topped 10% this year.
A vote of no confidence in Royal Mail CEO Simon Thompson will also be held.
The CWU said Royal Mail’s proposed deal also includes “introducing Uber-style owner-drivers, mail centre closures and changes to Sunday working”.
“Posties are in the fight of their lives against the Uberisation of Royal Mail and the destruction of their conditions,” commented CWU general secretary Dave Ward.
“But 115,000 of our members will not just accept this war on their livelihoods and their industry.
“Simon Thompson has to either accept that or walk away – until he does one or the other, serious disruption will continue.”
Royal Mail urged workers not to strike at the "busiest time of the year".
A Royal Mail spokesperson told BBC News: "Royal Mail proposed a new pay-for-change offer to the CWU worth 9% over two years, despite making a loss of £219mln in the first half of the year.
"The CWU is playing a dangerous game with its members' jobs and the future of Royal Mail. We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience the CWU's continued strike action will cause. We are doing all we can to minimise delays and keep people, businesses and the country connected."