Royal Mail denies holding back letters at Worcester depot

Postal workers have told the Worcester News that letters are not being delivered - and some are even being held in a sorting office in Birmingham.

Members of the Communication Workers Union have taken part in a series of strikes in a dispute over pay.

Postal workers on strike earlier this year

On strike days, the Royal Mail has said it will prioritise delivery of Covid test kits, medical prescriptions and Special Delivery and Tracked24 parcels.

But workers say the non-delivery of letters extends beyond strike days.

An employee at the Worcester sorting office, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “It’s pretty disgusting to stop running mail.

READ MORE: Postal service set for disruption as Royal Mail workers strike

“We don’t want to strike, we’ve not had a chance to vote on any offers shown and a lot of people would consider breaking the strike just so the post could get to people.

“We, as postmen, understand the importance of people getting mail from loved ones or hospital letters, it breaks our hearts.”

'An attempt to turn public opinion'

Worcester councillor Richard Udall said: “I have heard from a number of postal workers that the deliveries of letters from the sorting office in Birmingham to Worcester have been stopped until December 28, with an instruction to prioritise parcels.

“Postal workers know and believe they could do both.

“Postal workers have told me they are despairing at their management and have lost all confidence in them.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Every item of mail is important to us. Royal Mail does not operate a policy of prioritising parcels.

“We regularly remind colleagues that the delivery, collection and processing of letters and parcels should be treated with equal importance.

“Due to the amount of space they take up, parcels can restrict the movement of both people and mail in our offices leading to health and safety issues and delays to other mail.

“At particularly busy times, such as in the recovery days after a strike, we may occasionally at a local level clear parcels to free up space and address health and safety concerns so that we can keep all mail - including letters - moving efficiently through our network.”