Yes, this Royal Mail strike means fewer Christmas cards – but posties are fighting for their survival | Dan Bradley

The company seems hellbent on destroying the 400-year heritage of this vital service and making it into a gig-economy courier

• Dan Bradley is a writer and a former Royal Mail postal worker

After a year of spiralling costs and political upheaval, most of us are now looking forward to the distraction of Christmas celebrations: feelgood pop songs, festive markets and time off to see family and friends. But the window for posting cards and presents has become much shorter this year. Although many people will be frustrated about the last Christmas posting date being brought forward by a week, things are terrible for postal workers – which is why Royal Mail posties are out there now, striking for their survival.

After four days of strike action in late August and early September, with more than 98% of Communication Workers Union (CWU) members voting to back a second round of strikes, the situation has only got worse. Union members have been carrying out six days of strike action over the weeks leading up to Christmas. And they aren’t the only ones: rail workers, university staff, teachers, civil servants, ambulance workers and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have all been striking this month.

Dan Bradley is a writer and a former Royal Mail postal worker

Continue reading...

from The Guardian https://ift.tt/5aI02ET