Royal Mail Will Collect COVID Tests 7 Days a Week

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19 November 2020

Royal Mail is introducing a weekend extension for its existing priority postboxes from 21 November. It's also increasing its number of priority postboxes available for Monday to Saturday postings from 33,000 to over 35,000, providing increased convenience for test kit customers.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, thanked Royal Mail, commenting: “It is a big team effort and I am very grateful for our posties for playing their part to help keep people safe.”

Meanwhile, the biggest union for the communications industry in the UK is calling for a better sick and self-isolation pay scheme for DHL Parcel UK’s employees.

“It is a big team effort and I am very grateful for our posties for playing their part to help keep people safe.”

–Matt Hancock

Health and Social Care Secretary

 

Key Workers in National COVID Effort

The postal service has been been a key partner for the government’s national testing programme for the distribution of coronavirus test kits since the start of the pandemic. 

Designated as key workers, Royal Mail and other service providers have been working throughout this year to make sure the community still receives its mail, providing an essential service to society.

On National Postal Workers Day this year, postal workers were dubbed the "new rock stars” by the Deputy General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

CWU Urges DHL Parcel UK to Adopt a “Culture of Responsibility” for Key Workers

The CWU is spearheading a campaign to urge DHL to take “responsibility” during the pandemic and adopt real sick and self-isolation pay scheme for workers.

They have launched a petition calling for a proper payment plan for people who are sick with coronavirus or have been forced to self-isolate.

During the first lockdown in spring, DHL Parcel UK workers who were forced to self-isolate were paid the minimum statutory sick pay (SSP). Those who were ill got a week’s paid leave before returning onto SSP. Standing at the rate of £95.85, this is the worst statutory sick pay scheme in Europe, says the CWU.

Currently, the CWU believes that DHL Parcel UK’s refusal to implement a COVID-19 sickness policy means workers can be disciplined for following legal requirements and national health guidelines for taking time off work.

Picture: A photograph of a close-up of some second class stamps

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 19 November 2020

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