URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO PROTECT POSTAL WORKERS

I have written to the UK Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy seeking urgent action to protect Royal Mail postal workers, after it has been revealed they are still being asked to deliver “junk” mail, despite the nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Postal workers and delivery drivers are rightly classed as key workers due to the importance of delivering food, supplies and important mail to homes. This encourages more people to stay at home and observe social distancing measures. However, postal workers are still being asked to deliver items classed as “junk mail,” such as unaddressed letters, food menus and advertising promotions.

The Communications Union has stated that this is a serious concern for their members and highlighted the role postal workers play in the UK’s coronavirus response.

It is simply unacceptable that our postal workers are being asked to continue delivering junk mail which often ends up straight in the bin, whilst shops and businesses across the country have closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Many online business continue to send out magazines and sales promotions via Royal Mail, putting postal workers at risk.

This mail is mostly useless at the best of times, never mind during a national crisis and postal workers must be protected by only being asked to deliver essential mail, thus reducing their chances of catching and spreading the deadly coronavirus to their families.

After being contacted by a number of concerned postal workers in my constituency, I have written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, urging the UK Government to stop these non-essential deliveries, to protect the health and wellbeing of our postal workers.

ENDS