photo Paul Mattsson

photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Gary Clark, CWU Scotland No.2 branch secretary

Postal workers give the public a great service. But in this is a time of national emergency – we should be doing this in as safe environment as possible.

We should only safely deliver essential items, with proper PPE and observe the two-metre safe distance. But from reports from all over the country, this is not happening.

Communication Workers Union (CWU) reps are going out and sourcing hand sanitiser etc for their members. It is shocking Royal Mail hasn’t provided them.

The government says only essential work. What is essential about postal workers delivering advertising leaflets? This time could be used to deliver medical supplies and other items to people in self-isolation, particularly those at-risk or being shielded.

We are reaching breaking point. But now we have to deliver a letter from the prime minister to every address in the country when thousands of postal workers are either off sick or in self-isolation.

Localised actions are already starting to take place. At the Alloa sorting office in Clackmannanshire in Scotland, workers have walked out over health and safety, and junk mail deliveries.