Royal Mail’s free doorstep collection service to continue as strikes near

Royal Mail is extending its free doorstep collection service until December 2022 in the face of upcoming strikes and financial losses.

Under Parcel Collect, customers who need to send or return an item can arrange for a postie to collect the parcel from their doorstep while doing their usual rounds.

The company claims the convienent service has been “incredibly successful” since it was launched, and is also better for the environment.

Its own research revealed more than a quarter (29 per cent) of those polled already have their parcel collected from home, and 55 per cent are likely to consider it. It’s especially popular among young adults aged 18 to 24.

“This is why we are so keen to share the benefits of this convenient service which we expect to continue to grow strongly,” the company said.

The announcement comes just days before Royal Mail workers will stage their first of six strikes across August and September amid pay disputes.

More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers are planning to strike on August 26, August 31, September 8, and September 9.

Fresh strikes were also recently announced by post office workers. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will walk out on August 26, 27 and 30, with some of the action coinciding with strikes by BT, Openreach and Royal Mail employees.

Approximately 2,000 Crown office, supply chain and admin workers will walk out on August 26, the so called ‘everyone-out’ day.

Crown office staff continue their action the next day, Saturday 2, and their Supply Chain and Admin colleagues return to their picket lines after the Summer Bank Holiday, on Tuesday 30.

Royal Mail said “there are no grounds for industrial action”.

It is urging customers to send letters and parcels before the strike days. The delivery of letters will be suspended on strike days.

Royal Mail has said it would be “materially loss making” in the UK if planned strikes by 115,000 workers go ahead.

Royal Mail said that, from April to June this year, it had made an adjusted operating loss of £92m, representing an 11.5 per cent fall in revenue, the Guardian reports.

It added that it may be forced to split its domestic and international businesses if it does not achieve “significant operational change”.