On the bigger picture, Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Retailers will be working closely with their delivery providers on contingency plans to ensure customers can get the goods they need, especially on Black Friday and the run up to Christmas which is so important to consumers and retail businesses during this very difficult year." Government 'not in a position to give inflation pay rises'Ĭivil servants to go on strike - affecting ports, borders and transport "We need to be doing all we can to support these businesses to recover and grow, and minimise obstacles where possible, not place them under further duress." "The widespread disruption caused by postal strikes will jeopardise a core sales channel for many small businesses during the critical peak period, when every sale counts. Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain, said: "Small businesses are under incredible pressure right now, with every area of business under strain and cash-flow a huge problem. "Adding industrial action, which is causing widespread disruption to deliveries and sales, at the most important time of year for trading, risks being the nail in the coffin for many small businesses." "Astronomical energy prices, rising interest rates, and the blowback from political unrest has made it incredibly challenging for small businesses to operate right now. "But industrial action risks creating chaos at the worst time for businesses and families. Image: An eBay survey found 89% of sellers expected a negative impact on salesĮBay's UK general manager, Murray Lambell, warned: "The UK boasts one of the world's most sophisticated ecommerce economies, with small businesses thriving by scaling up their retail operations online. The eBay marketplace said a survey of its small business members showed that half saw the impact of the Royal Mail walkout as "disastrous" for demand. It predicted that visits to retail venues on Black Friday will be 12.8% higher than on Black Friday 2021.įears of disrupted deliveries could force more bargain hunters towards stores rather than online shops. Retail intelligence firm Springboard has forecast a busy few days ahead as cash-strapped shoppers look to bag some bargains in the midst of the cost of living crisis. More strikes are planned for 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24 of December. ![]() The walkouts are deliberately timed to coincide with the core pre-Christmas shopping season - a crucial earnings generator for Royal Mail - as strikes will also hit 30 November and 1 December, affecting Cyber Monday deliveries. The CWU rejected Royal Mail's " best and final" offer on Wednesday. ![]() When are all the strikes and will I still get my letters? ![]() The Royal Mail action is the latest stoppage in a long-running, and increasingly bitter, dispute over pay and the company's modernisation plans. Scotland's first national schools strike since the 1980s is also taking place over pay - with today's one-day action by members of the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) expected to shut the majority of schools across the country. The union has warned of escalated action in the new year if the row is not resolved. University lecturers and teaching staff are also walking out on the first of three days of strikes - affecting an estimated 2.5 million students.Īround 70,000 members of the University and College Union (UCU) will strike today and Friday, and again next Wednesday, in a dispute over pay, pensions and contracts.
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