Small business owners are urging customers to get their orders in as soon as possible in an effort to avoid delays caused by a series of Royal Mail strikes.
The Communication Workers Union has called on its members at Royal Mail to take national strike action today (11 December), as well as on a number of other days in December amid calls for better pay.
The strike includes employees who collect, sort and deliver parcels and letters - in other words, a large number of those needed at the moment to help ensure people across the UK get their Christmas cards and all the presents they've ordered online.
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Though the strikes might sound like a good excuse for anyone who just hasn't got around to Christmas shopping yet, they're causing chaos for small business owners who rely on Royal Mail to get products to their customers.
Many workers have taken to Twitter to share their concerns amid the ongoing strikes, with some worried that their businesses may fail as a result of the action.
Rachel Moutrie, creator of luxury hand-dyed yarn, told her customers on Twitter: "Royal Mail have given Friday 16th as the last date for Tracked 48 parcels to arrive before Christmas. I'm not going to say its not guaranteed. Please order early. Anything ordered before lunchtime 21st Dec will be sent on the 21st. After that it will be sent on 4th Jan."
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Food company Oat Avenue also shared advice for customers online, writing: "Remember to get your orders in before the 12th of December to get your deliveries of our Granola Butter. Royal mail are striking this year so please order early to make sure your stockings are filled."
The strikes are expected to continue on 14 December, 15 December, 23 December and 24 December, with Royal Mail explaining that while it has 'well-developed contingency plans', the company 'cannot fully replace the daily efforts of [its] frontline workforce'.
"We’ll be doing what we can to keep services running, but we are sorry this planned strike action is likely to cause you some disruption," it added in a statement online.
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Royal Mail has put forward a 'best and final offer for pay and change' to its workers as a result of the strikes, including an 'enhanced pay deal of nine percent over 18 months'.
"We’re urging CWU leadership to accept the change and pay offer, call off future damaging strike action, for the good of our customers and our people," Royal Mail explains. "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."
LADbible has reached out to Royal Mail for comment.
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Emily Brown