Royal Mail is reportedly facing a staffing crisis, with approximately 400 employees leaving each week ahead of the Christmas season, according to the Communication Workers Union (CWU). The union has warned that the company is 'on the brink of collapse' without intervention, citing a significant increase in departures linked to changes in delivery routes and workloads.
The CWU has called for emergency discussions between the Government and Royal Mail management, stating that the current situation represents a 'ticking timebomb' for the organization. The number of weekly departures has risen from around 330 to 400 since the introduction of new delivery routes, which have reportedly led to increased workloads for staff.
Concerns have been raised by workers that parcel deliveries are being prioritized over letters, leading to dissatisfaction among employees. One postman expressed concerns that this Christmas season could be particularly challenging for both staff and customers.
The CWU noted that many of those leaving are new recruits on part-time contracts, who feel overwhelmed by the demands of their roles, with some reporting they are required to walk between 12 to 15 miles a day.
Royal Mail, which was fined £21 million by regulator Ofcom last year for failing to meet service targets, has stated that it is committed to improving its services. The company’s parent organization, International Distribution Services, was acquired last year by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who acknowledged the challenges facing the company during a meeting with MPs.
The new 'DM26' delivery model has been implemented in nearly all of Royal Mail's 1,200 delivery offices, allowing for second-class post to be delivered only every other weekday, while first-class items are expected to be delivered six days a week. The CWU has urged its members to halt the rollout of this system until a plan is established to address the issues affecting numerous offices.
CWU General Secretary Dave Ward emphasized the need for a summit involving stakeholders and the Government to tackle the ongoing crisis, stating that the company's failure to address recruitment and retention issues is critical to its survival.
In response, a Royal Mail spokesperson reported that the new delivery model is yielding 'positive results,' with daily delivery rates improving from 88% to 95% across the UK. The company is also hiring an additional 22,000 temporary workers for the Christmas period.
Despite missing delivery targets in the three months leading to June 28, Royal Mail has noted improvements in service, with 85% of first-class mail delivered the next day and 91.4% of second-class items delivered within three working days. However, these figures fall short of Ofcom's targets of 90% and 95%, respectively. The company plans to invest £500 million into further improvements as it navigates a decline in letter volumes, which fell by 10% to 5.7 billion last year due to the rise of digital communication and increasing stamp prices.
Ward concluded by stating that Royal Mail requires a comprehensive business vision to ensure dignified work for employees and quality service for consumers, emphasizing that the time for such a vision is overdue.