The Royal Mail has announced a delay to a significant overhaul of its delivery rules, pushing the planned changes back to early next year. The reform, which would see second-class letters no longer delivered on Saturdays, was expected to be implemented more widely but will now not commence until at least January.
What the delay means for postal services
The core of the postponed change involves dropping the obligation to deliver second-class post on Saturdays. Historically, the Universal Service Obligation (USO) required Royal Mail to deliver letters six days a week, from Monday through Saturday. Parcels had to be delivered on five days, from Monday to Friday.
Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, has stated that reform of the postal service is "necessary." While Royal Mail had previously expressed eagerness to move forward with deployment swiftly, the wider UK rollout has now been officially postponed.
Controversy over Christmas staff perks
The news of the delay comes amid internal discontent over Royal Mail's Christmas recognition for its workforce. This year, the company has given frontline workers a collection of 50 Christmas stamps as a festive thank-you. However, in a move that has caused bemusement and irritation among staff, these stamps are second class, a downgrade from the first-class stamps offered in previous years like 2024.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has criticised the decision. A CWU spokesperson said: "The decision to send employees second-class stamps this Christmas exemplifies the way Royal Mail has been treating its staff for a long time now. Whilst postal workers are disappointed at this latest development they will, as always, continue to deliver a first-class service to customers and businesses across the UK."
Royal Mail's response and rationale
Defending its position, a Royal Mail spokesperson outlined the company's broader recognition efforts. "Every Christmas, Royal Mail recognises the hard work of colleagues in a number of ways, including a frontline bonus, free stamps and a wider recognition programme," they stated.
Regarding the specific choice of stamps, the spokesperson added: "This year, we’ve included 50 second-class stamps to reflect recent changes to the universal service obligation and to help keep mail moving smoothly for customers throughout the festive season."
The delay in changing Saturday delivery rules provides a temporary reprieve for the six-day-a-week service for all mail. However, with Ofcom insisting reform is needed, significant changes to the UK's postal landscape are expected to arrive in the new year.
