Overview
- Royal Mail reported that between 29 September and 30 November only 77.5% of first-class letters arrived next day and 91.6% of second-class arrived within three days, below Ofcom standards.
- Ofcom previously approved the removal of Saturday second-class deliveries from 28 July, but a nationwide rollout remains on hold pending agreement with the Communications Workers Union.
- The company says pilots in 35 delivery offices improved efficiency and service levels, including over Christmas, and it is urging urgent deployment across the network.
- Royal Mail has warned of potential short-term delays across 38 delivery offices covering about 100 postcodes, citing higher staff sickness and recent storms.
- The CWU blames a recruitment crisis tied to pay and conditions and warns the reform plan could worsen performance, while Citizens Advice highlights real harms from delays and questions cutting service days.