Full Breakdown
Royal Mail staff departures rise amid rollout of DM26 delivery system
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) reports that roughly 400 Royal Mail postmen and women are leaving the organization each week, an increase from the previous loss of about 330 staff per week out of a workforce of 83,000. The union attributes this acceleration to the introduction of the DM26 delivery system earlier this year, which reorganised routes and altered working patterns.
Background & Context
DM26 was implemented to improve delivery performance by grouping workers in threes, changing the walking pattern of rounds, and modifying service standards: second-class mail is now delivered only on alternate weekdays, while first-class mail and parcels are scheduled for daily delivery. Royal Mail presents the changes as part of a broader plan to create a more “efficient and financially sustainable” service.
Staff Experience and Operational Impact
According to the CWU, the new system is not functioning effectively in hundreds of offices. Anonymous staff have described a “nightmare” Christmas ahead as parcel volumes increase, noting that parcels continue to be prioritised, letters are left undelivered, and additional time is spent sorting mail into first- and second-class categories. One worker in the West Midlands said they did not handle any first-class mail on a recent shift because their route had fallen behind for weeks, suggesting that managerial reporting may not reflect on-ground realities.
Official Statements & Responses
A Royal Mail spokesperson maintains that the company consistently works to ensure that all mail—both letters and parcels—is delivered on time, emphasizing that the reforms are intended to enhance overall service reliability.
Why It Matters
The surge in staff departures raises concerns about the capacity of Royal Mail to meet delivery commitments, especially during peak periods such as the holiday season. If the union’s claims about operational difficulties are accurate, the DM26 system could undermine the postal service’s financial sustainability goals by increasing turnover and potentially compromising service quality.