UK postal workers plea for limit to non-essential deliveries
Discussion
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/25/u...
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.”
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.”
I had 6 things posted through my door today from my Postman:
4 menus from local restaurants, that are now closed
1 garden centre leaflet
1 Africa charity pleading for money
I shall be putting a sign up to say no circulars or junk mail in future, it really does piss me of at these times, i know they get paid for delivering this s
t but its really not necessay.
4 menus from local restaurants, that are now closed
1 garden centre leaflet
1 Africa charity pleading for money
I shall be putting a sign up to say no circulars or junk mail in future, it really does piss me of at these times, i know they get paid for delivering this s
t but its really not necessay.Johnnybee said:
Post Offices should really only be open for financial transactions and maybe letters. It’s not essential to post your eBay crap or a box of chocolates to Aunt Mabel.
I'd have to disagree. Some people are rubbing along on Ebay transaction income. Aunt Mable might be isolated and feeling very low; some Cadburys Dairy Milk might be just the thing to cheer her up.But the tons of other crap that the RM delivers can be put on hold.
Be careful what you wish for, not delivering junk now, might mean there’s no junk later.
Without the junk, there’s no postal service. Certainly not enough work to keep it afloat with a few greetings cards and letters from Grandma.
If we don’t subsidise it with leaflets, it may not be there at all.
Without the junk, there’s no postal service. Certainly not enough work to keep it afloat with a few greetings cards and letters from Grandma.
If we don’t subsidise it with leaflets, it may not be there at all.
So said:
Johnnybee said:
Post Offices should really only be open for financial transactions and maybe letters. It’s not essential to post your eBay crap or a box of chocolates to Aunt Mabel.
I'd have to disagree. Some people are rubbing along on Ebay transaction income. Aunt Mable might be isolated and feeling very low; some Cadburys Dairy Milk might be just the thing to cheer her up.But the tons of other crap that the RM delivers can be put on hold.
Junk mail absolutely, it's about time it got banned full stop. If anyone buys anything from it chances are they are elderly/vulnerable and being taken for a ride.
But the postal service in general has a terrible attitude to their work, I'm yet to meet a postman who doesn't moan about having to deliver parcels etc. Even though this is what is keeping them in work. This just sounds like more of the same, they are post deliverers not food/supplies deliverers, just concentrate on your job and leave other people's to them. They comment about delivering eBay junk and video games, people are supposed to staying in under virtual house arrest, if that lightens their mood a little and stops hoards of depression cases occurring then that has to be a good thing.
But the postal service in general has a terrible attitude to their work, I'm yet to meet a postman who doesn't moan about having to deliver parcels etc. Even though this is what is keeping them in work. This just sounds like more of the same, they are post deliverers not food/supplies deliverers, just concentrate on your job and leave other people's to them. They comment about delivering eBay junk and video games, people are supposed to staying in under virtual house arrest, if that lightens their mood a little and stops hoards of depression cases occurring then that has to be a good thing.
One day they might wake up, realise they're privatised, that the junk mail pays their wages and the rest of the stuff is necessary to someone.
Mess about too much and they'll lose whatever little business they have - and their jobs - to the competition.
Not like they're doing a lot of customer interaction is it?
Mess about too much and they'll lose whatever little business they have - and their jobs - to the competition.
Not like they're doing a lot of customer interaction is it?
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