The Communication Workers Union (CWU) claimed that Royal Mail workers are not given the adequate equipment and gear to protect themselves against the coronavirus. 

“The conditions thousands of our members are being expected to work in are not safe. Provision of PPE [personal protective equipment] across the UK is sporadic and Royal Mail have admitted they have no data on what equipment is available in each office,” said the trade union’s general secretary, Dave Ward. 

The CWU said that workers should be given masks, gloves and hand sanitiser. They told their members to not go to local sorting offices if they are not given the suggested equipment. The two-metre social distancing rule that the government implemented also has to be followed.

Ward added, “Our members are fantastic public servants. They want to keep the UK connected and are willing to step up their role by checking on the elderly, delivering government services and assisting with food deliveries. They deserve better than to be told washing their hands is the ‘gold standard’ of safety.”

A spokesman on behalf of the Royal Mail stated, “Royal Mail takes the health and safety of our colleagues very seriously. Throughout this crisis, every decision we make puts the health of our people and our customers first. In assessing the risks to our people and making the necessary operational changes to protect them, we take professional medical and health and safety advice on a daily basis.”

The Guardian was contacted by several workers from the Royal Mail who stated that they do not feel very safe at their work.  “We have staff working shoulder to shoulder. There is one bottle of sanitising gel to be shared by the whole office,” one worker said.

The trade union general secretary sad that the employees “deserve better than to be delivering advertising mail at a time of high risk for them and the customers they serve”.

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