Scots warned of major Royal Mail delays amid widespread sickness

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.the-gazette.co.uk/news/2580 ... -sickness/

Scots are being warned to brace for major postal delays after Royal Mail admitted staff sickness is disrupting deliveries.

Royal Mail has confirmed that delivery offices serving Uddingston (G71) and Johnstone, covering postcodes PA5, PA6, PA9, PA10 and PA12, are experiencing disruption, with some residents reporting little to no post since Christmas.

The postal operator said the problems stem from staffing shortages and high levels of sickness, adding that while most delays are concentrated south of the Border, a number of Scottish delivery offices are also impacted.

In a statement, Royal Mail said: “We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week.

“In a small number of local offices, this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factors.

“In those cases, we will rotate deliveries to minimise the delay to individual customers. We also provide targeted support to those offices to address their challenges and restore our service to the high standard our customers would normally receive.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. We will regularly update customers on the offices most impacted.”

The situation has sparked anger among residents, with more than 60 areas across the UK now reporting disruption. Concerns have also been raised at Westminster, where Telford MP Shaun Davies claimed postal workers were being instructed to prioritise parcels over letters.

He told MPs in the House of Commons: “Posties have contacted me privately to tell me that they have been ordered not to deliver post and to prioritise parcels.”

The latest delays follow ongoing issues in Scotland in the run-up to Christmas last year, when Royal Mail blamed sickness, absences, resourcing problems and vehicle breakdowns. At that time, nine Scottish areas, including Uddingston, were hit with excessive delays.

Postal services were also badly affected in 2022 and 2023 due to industrial action, while the continued shift towards parcel deliveries driven by online shopping has placed additional strain on delivery offices and staff.

[oypostie]

What is this mystery illness that seems to be wiping out postman nationwide

[Mr Rush]

and vehicle breakdowns

Thank heavens we got rid of the flights. It completely f****d up delivery in Scotland, but at least the planes aren't falling out of the sky!

[roadrunner bill]

What is this mystery illness that seems to be wiping out postman nationwide

Great comment.

Must be some kind of delivery pandemic, stay at home, be safe.... not doable.. delivery offices infected with empty delivery office virus..