ROYAL Mail has said long-term staffing vacancies are making postal deliveries in Shetland “challenging”.
Shetland News has been contacted by two individuals who have said they have been waiting days for parcels to be delivered, with these marked as being in “Glasgow” for four days at a time.
It is believed that staff illness has left the already depleted local postal force struggling to cope.
And Royal Mail said a lack of housing in Shetland, low unemployment and “competition for staff” was making it difficult to fill long-vacant postie positions.
Staff vacancies in the isles’ postal service are not new, and have been well documented in recent months, with continuing calls for Royal Mail to make vacant jobs more appealing.
It comes as posties prepare for the busiest time of year, with Royal Mail currently advertising for seasonal drivers over the Christmas period.
A spokesperson for Royal Mail said a high number of vacancies – many of which have been vacant “long-term” – had made deliveries in Shetland “challenging”.
“Our team in Lerwick is working hard to deliver to all addresses and ensure every item arrives as quickly as possible,” they said.
“We’re very sorry if some customers have experienced delays.
“Recruitment in the area remains difficult due to housing availability, competition for staff and low unemployment.
“We’re taking action to improve the situation, including offering additional payments and continuing to advertise roles.”
Royal Mail said items were not being held at Glasgow mail centre for days, and that if they were showing as being in Glasgow this was usually because they were in transit.
The company added tracking would only update once the item arrived at the next delivery office.
Shetland News reported in May that a quarter of postie jobs in Shetland were then vacant, with staff said to be leaving “in droves” due to low pay and pressurised working conditions.
Some remaining staff were said to be having to work up to 70 hours a week – the legal limit – to cover the shortfall.
In August, a “long-overdue” pay lift for postal workers was welcomed by the Communication Workers Union.
It said postal workers in Shetland would see their distant islands allowance more than double as part of a “significant victory”.
Posties in Shetland would receive £2,500 per annum, up from £1,167, after negotiations with Royal Mail, it added.