Recent challenges faced by Royal Mail have been attributed to a new shift system being trialled at 38 sorting offices nationwide, including locations such as Milton Keynes, Southend, and Ipswich. This system, referred to as “optimised delivery,” involves delivering second-class mail on alternate weekdays according to a two-week rotating schedule.
Mark Harper, the regional officer for the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) representing the East and Midlands, expressed significant concerns about the impact of this system on postal staff. He stated, “We don’t agree with it; it’s putting too much strain on our people and it’s clearly not working.” The CWU believes there are more effective methods for managing delivery schedules and engages in ongoing negotiations to propose alternative solutions.
The implementation of an overtime ban at some depots has further exacerbated the situation, resulting in postal staff not being replaced during sick leave. Harper emphasized the commitment of postal workers, saying, “All our postmen and postwomen want to do is to get everything out in one day, but at the moment they are being hamstrung because they aren’t able to do that.”
Royal Mail has defended the changes, citing a dramatic decline in letter volumes—from 20 billion letters annually a decade ago to just 6.7 billion today. While Harper acknowledged the difficulties faced by Royal Mail due to decreasing mail volumes, he also noted, “It’s a private company, and it has to make a profit.” The source of contention remains clear: while Royal Mail seeks to adapt to shifting market dynamics, union representatives advocate for the fair treatment and capability of employees affected by these changes.