Chaos in the British postal service: hundreds of workers leave every week

The Royal Mail in the UK is experiencing an unprecedented wave of resignations, with about 400 workers leaving each week due to a new delivery system. The union claims heavy workloads and fears a 'nightmare' during the holidays. The company says it is implementing an efficient reform and has hired 22,000 temporary workers.

The Royal Mail in the UK is experiencing an unprecedented wave of resignations, with about 400 workers leaving each week, up from 330 the previous week, out of a workforce of 83,000. The wave is driven by a new delivery system introduced this year aimed at streamlining service. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) claims the system increases workload, forces workers to walk longer distances, and prioritizes parcels over letters, which are sometimes left behind for weeks. The major concern is the approaching holiday season, with a postman from the East Midlands saying: 'We all think this attack will be the worst ever.' Another worker who left in July after nine years said he could not handle the 'chaos' anymore. The union has instructed its members to halt the system's implementation until a solution plan is agreed with management. Union representative Martin Walsh said: 'If a boat is already filling with water, adding more passengers is unlikely to solve the problem.' In contrast, Royal Mail claims the reforms aim to provide an 'efficient and economically sustainable' service, that the system rollout is 90% complete, and it serves 95% of addresses daily. The company announced the hiring of 22,000 temporary workers for the holidays. The crisis comes amid growing competition and declining demand for letters, and the regulator has fined the company over £37 million in three years.