Online sellers in the United Kingdom are bracing for a postal strike later this week. The Communication Workers Union voted to strike Royal Mail on October 22 and 23 (link), and there are fears there could be more actions as the holiday shopping season gears up. One AuctionBytes reader based in the UK said he had deep concern for the viability of his business over the Christmas period.

The Interactive Media in Retail Group, representing major UK online shopping sites, told the Daily Express newspaper that 60 percent of Internet retailers it polled have already made arrangements to bypass Royal Mail to protect their customers. The organization published a report on Monday, "Mail Strike: Practical Advise For e-Retailers," to advise online sellers of steps they should take to prepare for the strike (link).

Amazon.co.uk has already cancelled its long-term contract to use the Royal Mail for parcels over 500 grams and will use a rival service, Home Delivery Network, and eBay UK Managing Director Mark Lewis told sellers that the company would temporarily remove the option for buyers to rate eBay UK sellers on the Dispatch Time DSR (Detailed Seller Rating) from the start date of any national strike action. eBay UK also put together a page of resources for sellers (link).

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that TNT is lobbying the government to change regulation that it says gives Royal Mail "de facto monopoly on the final mile delivery," and Parcel2Go is giving eBay UK sellers a 5% discount if they put the Parcel2Go logo into their listings (link).