Royal Mail Offers Part-Time Posties Increased Hours to Meet Letter Delivery Targets
Royal Mail intends to invest GBP#500 million over the next five years, implementing measures designed to improve its service quality and meet letter delivery targets. This strategy includes offering part-time postal workers the option to increase their hours and reintroducing more consistent routes for posties.
These changes are being introduced after Royal Mail consistently failed to meet its revised letter delivery targets, which were recently relaxed by Ofcom. Current figures indicate that only three-quarters of first-class letters arrive on time, significantly below the 93% target.
Company officials state that the implementation of these plans will take five to six months, with delivery targets expected to be met within a year. Other improvement measures include investments to manage sickness absences and targeted support for underperforming delivery offices.
Further adjustments include the delivery of low-priority second-class and other non-first-class posts every other weekday, rather than daily. Parcel deliveries will continue from Monday to Saturday. Royal Mail is also pursuing plans to discontinue Saturday delivery for second-class post.
The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) has approved these plans, pending a member vote. Dave Ward, CWU General Secretary, acknowledged that staff "welcome any plan that reverses the chaos that posties have seen" but expressed scepticism regarding the company's commitment to its promises. Ward highlighted concerns about adequate resourcing, staff retention, and posties' input in route design.
Ricky McAulay, Royal Mail's UK Operations Director, described the plans as a "fundamental reset", noting that similar adjustments have been made by other European postal administrations. He reiterated the company's long-standing position that its Universal Service Obligation (USO), requiring six-day-a-week letter delivery, is outdated. McAulay denied accusations that Royal Mail systematically prioritises parcels over letters.
