Apparently UK Post office workers are going on strike next week...

[Taffeta]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38296460

This has just come up on the BBC feed. I don't know if anyone is posting ponies or planning to do it next week but I know a lot of people on here have auctions, and if this goes ahead it might be chaos, so possibly worth getting stuff out sooner if you can.

Or at least warning buyers of potential disruption.

[Carrehz]

Of all the times for this to happen.. @_@; I hope the package I'm waiting for arrives soon..

Thanks for the heads-up

[Taffeta]

Of all the times for this to happen.. @_@; I hope the package I'm waiting for arrives soon..

Thanks for the heads-up

There's not a lot of info right now but it looks like people in the post offices rather than the sorting chain. So if it's been posted, it's probably okay...so long as you don't have to collect it from a PO. It might also be that strikes are different days in different areas and not the whole week - but it's worth being aware anyway just in case...

[pinkkittywinks]

Thank you for the heads up Taffeta, I had no idea.

Love pkw xxx

[ladybastilla]

You guys have my sympathy. We had that mess here during the summer and it's never pleasant.

[Ringlets]

Thanks for posting   - I  just heard about this too . This is the worst time of the year for them to be doing this   *sigh* I have got a big parcel to post to an international friend. I should have posted it sooner. I think I'm gonna wait it out until after the holidays and the strikes before I attempt to send it

[Carrehz]

Of all the times for this to happen.. @_@; I hope the package I'm waiting for arrives soon..

Thanks for the heads-up

There's not a lot of info right now but it looks like people in the post offices rather than the sorting chain. So if it's been posted, it's probably okay...so long as you don't have to collect it from a PO. It might also be that strikes are different days in different areas and not the whole week - but it's worth being aware anyway just in case...

That's what I'm concerned about - it's been sent, but it's from the US so odds are that it'll get hit by customs charges Oh well, nothing I can do but wait and see what happens, heh.

[ladybastilla]

Ew, customs charges suck. My bf sent my present direct from the company who makes it and I got nailed for $20. Grrr...

[Taffeta]

I have something sitting in customs at the moment in the christmas backlog, meaning it probably won't make it for Christmas. And there will definitely be a charge when it makes it out. Yay for HMRC.

[Artemesia's Garden]

I was going to post my cards on Monday 

It's the thought that counts.

[Lollipop]

 The strike shouldn't effect that much. We spoke to our local post office & they even said everyone is panicking over nothing it is not Royal Mail that is striking, it is the Post Office & not all of the post office either.
So if you are posting your items straight in the mail box don't worry! Royal mail is NOT striking. (they are separate from the post office now)

"less than 100 branches are likely to close"

So not everyone will be closed. Hardly any really. I know ours is open. Pretty sure Brighton Churchill one is too.

Basically if your post office is open its NOT effected .... Which means your post will go out as usual because the actual posting part is down to ROYAL MAIL 

So really there is no need to panic really.

If you are only posting cards or anything that can go large letter, go buy some stamps & put them in the post box! 

It was actually very funny at the post office on Friday, its been so packed all week. We went in there Friday expecting it to be the same.... it was a Ghost Town! That's when our local Post office Manager told us that the strike isn't actually effecting them or most post offices really. It's the staff behind the scenes mainly (according to them).

So don't Panic! If your local Royal Mail is as good as ours they will make sure to deliver before Christmas Day. Ours have trudged through the Snow before to make sure parcels were delivered before Christmas (obviously in the UK down South, tiny bit of snow all cars stop! non this year yet though lol )

p.s customs isn't effected by the post office again that's separate again, probably is a little clogged up because it's Christmas (although if you have brought from within the EU it should fly through customs , I'm waiting on a Canada one at the moment if it gets here before Christmas I will be pleasantly surprised)

[Ringlets]

Thanks for the extra info Lollipop   
 I have had to use 2 of my local POs , but had no issues either  *sigh of relief*

[Rhubarbpie]

Grrrr better not be affecting the swap I am hosting on my FB group 


That said, locally, there is only one PO in my area affected and my partner and I have both recieved our boxes as well as 50% of my swappers.... just hope the rest is just seasonal traffic!

[Taffeta]

It's always better to be prepared for the worst just in case. Especially if you live in a remote area with limited postal facilities...as some of us do when we're home...

Glad it's not affecting people as much as it could though.

Post is seriously delayed mind you. I wonder if that has anything to do with the flooding in Upper Street and Islington Green a few weeks ago. It closed a significant amount of very busy road around Angel for a week and Mt Pleasant, the main sorting office, is right near there (its real near where I used to live last year). We've definitely had late cards stamped Mt Pleasant, so that might also be a headsup with post coming through London.