Royal Mail delays postal overhaul rollout until January

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 26 Oct, 12:49 · Archive

Royal Mail will delay expanding its second-class post overhaul to its final 107 delivery offices until January 11.

Royal Mail will defer the final stage of its second-class delivery overhaul until 11 January, following agreement with the postal workers' union. The business originally intended to complete the rollout across all 1,200 delivery offices by Christmas.

Under the reforms, second-class letters will move to alternate weekday deliveries, with Saturday services removed entirely. Royal Mail has so far implemented the changes in nearly 1,100 locations, with another 15 scheduled by 2 November. The final 107 delivery offices across the UK will now wait until the new year.

Royal Mail's parent company, International Distribution Services, was acquired last year by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. The group had faced earlier delays implementing the reforms due to friction with trade union representatives.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham called on Royal Mail last week to address its operational shortcomings, warning that the government might consider 'further measures' following repeated failures to meet delivery targets. The Communication Workers Union also called for an emergency summit on Royal Mail's future, claiming the organisation was 'on the brink of collapse'.

Royal Mail said the delay was a 'pragmatic approach' to allow it to 'maintain the momentum behind one of the biggest operational changes in its history, while keeping focus firmly on delivering a successful Christmas for customers'. The business insisted its reforms were starting to deliver improvements.

Royal Mail delays postal overhaul rollout until January — Image: The Independent

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How it is being reported

Royal Mail delays major postal overhaul ahead of ChristmasPrime minister Andy Burnham called on Royal Mail last week to address its operational shortcomingsThe Independent · 26 Oct, 12:33
Royal Mail delays full rollout of postal overhaul until after ChristmasThe group said it had agreed with the postal workers union to delay expanding the reforms to the remaining 107 delivery offices until January.Evening Standard · 26 Oct, 12:00
Royal Mail delays full rollout of postal overhaul until after ChristmasThe group said it had agreed with the postal workers union to delay expanding the reforms to the remaining 107 delivery offices until January.Independent Business · 26 Oct, 12:00
Royal Mail delays full rollout of postal overhaul until after ChristmasThe group said it had agreed with the postal workers union to delay expanding the reforms to the remaining 107 delivery offices until January.Independent Business · 26 Oct, 11:39

In this story: Royal Mail · International Distribution Services · Communication Workers Union · Andy Burnham · Daniel Kretinsky · Czech Republic · UK

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