UK postal workers in plea for limit to non-essential deliveries

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 25 Mar 2020, 12:48

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... oronavirus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

UK postal workers in plea for limit to non-essential deliveries
Delivery workers rail at amount of junk mail they are being asked to handle during coronavirus crisis

Alex Hern UK technology editor

A postal worker delivers mail to a home in London.

Postal workers have called on Royal Mail and e-commerce sites to limit the amount of non-essential items they are being asked to deliver at a time when they are risking their health by turning up to work.

Despite the UK government’s closure of non-essential retail outlets, e-commerce companies can continue operating unless they decide to close voluntarily. But for the delivery workers who carry goods to customers in their homes, the responsibility of being a key worker is frequently undermined by the nature of the items being delivered.

Emily, a postal worker in Scotland, said: “We are currently delivering video games and leaflets for local restaurants, when instead we could be ones who reduce the requirement for the elderly to go out to get food. The infrastructure we have can be used for good, but delivery of non-essentials must not come before our health.”

Another postal worker, in comments shared on an employee forum, said: “We could be safe from this virus. But because the Royal Mail see Mother’s Day cards as essential work, apparently we all have to risk our lives and the safety of the country now.

“You’re out exposing yourself and your families to this deadly virus for the ‘essential work’ of Screwfix magazines and eBay jewellery. Yes, we should have a skeleton service for coronavirus and other essential mail – medical supplies, groceries and toiletries. All other services should stop.”

A spokesperson for CWU, the union that represents postal workers, said such complaints were common among its members.

“Two weeks ago we announced an overwhelming strike ballot result but said that we weren’t going to call strike action during this period because it would be irresponsible. We said we want postal workers to become an additional emergency service in the UK. We believe this could really help the country in these unprecedented times,” they said.

“But there has to be a serious discussion around the prioritisation of mail now: NHS letters, coronavirus testing kits, food parcels, we want them delivered by the Royal Mail. What we don’t want to be delivering is ‘here’s the latest shopping offers’ – what the public would call junk mail.”

The union did manage to secure agreement from Royal Mail to improve safety for postal workers. Royal Mail has imposed new rules limiting the staffing of delivery vans to one person and rearranged workplaces to implement physical distancing.

But workers say it is taking time for that to be reflected on the ground. “The CWU decided we could be an emergency service, but we don’t even have the ability to clean our hands,” said Emily.

Royal Mail said: “We are required to deliver the universal service through the market and without recourse to a public subsidy. The universal postal service provides a lifeline to businesses and communities everywhere and we are proud to provide it. Door-to-door mailings and marketing mail are a very important means of paying for the universal service and supporting the delivery of all mail – including important documents such as hospital appointments and medical prescriptions.

“The delivery of parcels and letters is a key way of keeping the country together and helping many people who may not have the option to leave their homes. Their work at this time is hugely appreciated. We are proud of our people whenever they are able to go beyond the call of duty and help the local community in a safe way in these difficult times.”

Change will need to involve more than Royal Mail, however, and some retailers have acted at their own behest to prioritise essential items. Amazon, the largest e-commerce company, said: “Many of these customers have no other way to get priority items and we want to be sure that we have the right resources in place to deliver on their needs.

“We are prioritising the intake and dispatch of items most needed by our customers right now. These are items such as food, health and personal care products, books and items needed to work from home.”

Amazon continues to offer next-day delivery on a range of items, from novelty beer openers to garden secateurs.

“The public has to be thinking about needs and wants,” said the CWU. “Some people are just clearly at home bored buying all sorts of rubbish.”

blobneb · Post by **blobneb** » 25 Mar 2020, 13:00

It'll be interesting to see the public response to this...

danny2006 · Post by **danny2006** » 25 Mar 2020, 13:06

So because of the universal service rm won't budge. Domino's, screw fix etc is kepping the country connected. News of Uk's youngest victim of covid19 passing away with no health issues, this virus is no longer just a threat to elderly or those with health issues. Scary times ahead.

Williaal2 · Post by **Williaal2** » 25 Mar 2020, 13:12

danny2006 wrote:So because of the universal service rm won't budge. Domino's, screw fix etc is kepping the country connected. News of Uk's youngest victim of covid19 passing away with no health issues, this virus is no longer just a threat to elderly or those with health issues. Scary times ahead.

Royal mail can't budge because of the conflict between being wholly privatized, no subsidy from govt, and still being the official postal service of the uk. To keep running, not going bankrupt it needs to accept any and all private business to stay afloat. Things are no looking good.

Hands up if you think this Tory govt has any intention whatsoever of renationalising royal mail?

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » 25 Mar 2020, 13:12

blobneb wrote:It'll be interesting to see the public response to this...

They don't give a fu*k about our terms and conditions or the terms and conditions of anyone else having to work through this shi*storm, they just want their stuff, if people cared about workers terms and conditions the likes of Amazon and sports direct wouldn't exist and we wouldn't have a fat lying bumbling tw*t as a prime minister.

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 25 Mar 2020, 13:20

If they open up the comments guys be honest, be respectful but above all be careful.

blobneb · Post by **blobneb** » 25 Mar 2020, 13:30

They need junk mail income to maintain the USO but bus drivers get help for journeys not taken, companies get payment for wages not paid because of lost income from protecting people's health. Why are we not deserving enough of protection? If anyone stops and thinks about it, if they don't want to endanger their own health to get something, do they want anyone else to endanger their health for it either?

twoloops · Post by **twoloops** » 25 Mar 2020, 13:34

What about us? https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... e=emb_logo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **Pathfinder** » 25 Mar 2020, 14:00

2/3 of my d2ds today were for shops that are closed.

Makes sense.

Pumpernickel · Post by **Pumpernickel** » 25 Mar 2020, 14:08

Pathfinder wrote:2/3 of my d2ds today were for shops that are closed.

Makes sense.

I'd bet many of the offers where shops are still open are no longer valid due to rationing...

Last week Farmfoods were advertising 18 packs of toilet roll: buy 3 for £11 (3 packs, of 18 rolls, ergo 54 rolls...).

Did they have any?
If they did, would they allow you the multibuy?

These D2Ds and the offers they contain are organised weeks in advance, and most no longer apply, ergo we are delivering false advertising.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 25 Mar 2020, 19:22

Williaal2 wrote: Hands up if you think this Tory govt has any intention whatsoever of renationalising royal mail?

There would have to be a mail delivery service whether private or nationalized, the government's hand potentially could be forced. Whether the service would be anything like we currently have is a different matter, but in the end a postal service is still an essential service outside of a pandemic.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 26 Mar 2020, 15:12

blobneb wrote:They need junk mail income to maintain the USO but bus drivers get help for journeys not taken, companies get payment for wages not paid because of lost income from protecting people's health. Why are we not deserving enough of protection? If anyone stops and thinks about it, if they don't want to endanger their own health to get something, do they want anyone else to endanger their health for it either?

They lifted one of your posts...
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 71&t=94779" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Could have given us a shout out, this article is even on the world economic forum website.