In a damning assessment of the UK's postal infrastructure, communications regulator Ofcom has declared that Royal Mail's current operations are 'not sustainable' and require immediate, fundamental reform. The regulator's intervention comes amidst mounting pressure from both consumers and businesses over catastrophic delivery failures and the company's precarious financial position.
The core of Ofcom's proposal is a controversial shift from the current six-days-a-week letter delivery obligation to a three-day service for first-class mail. This move, the regulator argues, is essential to ensure the service's survival in an era of drastically declining letter volumes, which have halved since 2011.
A Service in Peril
Ofcom's report pulls no punches, highlighting that Royal Mail has consistently failed to meet its existing delivery targets. The regulator emphasised that the current situation is doing 'damage to the postal service' and that the universal service is 'getting out of date'.
'The evidence is clear that reform is needed,' a spokesperson stated, pointing to the unsustainable economics of maintaining a Victorian-era service model in the 21st century.
The Human Cost: Job Security Fears
The proposed changes have ignited fierce opposition from the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents thousands of postal workers. CWU official Alan Jones slammed the proposals, warning they would 'destroy the service as we know it' and inevitably lead to significant job losses.
'This is about protecting a public service, not simply maximising profit for shareholders,' Jones argued, framing the debate as one about preserving a vital public utility versus pursuing pure commercial interests.
The Road Ahead: Consultation and Legislation
Ofcom has launched a formal consultation on its proposals, which will run until April 3rd. However, any fundamental change to Royal Mail's universal service obligation would ultimately require approval from Parliament, setting the stage for a potential political battle over the future of the nation's post.
The regulator maintains that without such modernisation, the service risks continued decline, worse financial performance, and increasingly unreliable deliveries for all customers.
