Why are Royal Mail staff quitting in large numbers?
The Communication Workers Union reports that around 400 postal staff are quitting each week after Royal Mail rolled out the DM26 delivery model, which it says has increased workload and caused service problems. The union has called for a pause to further roll‑out until issues are fixed.
What happened
- 9 Oct, 2026
The CWU announced a pause to any further rollout of delivery model 26 until a plan addresses current problems, and Royal Mail requested immediate negotiations [2]
- Earlier
Royal Mail staff departures rose to about 400 quits per week after the DM26 system was introduced, up from roughly 330 per week before the change [1]
What you need to know
DM26 reorganises routes, groups workers in threes and limits second‑class delivery to every other weekday.
Workers say the new model has increased steps taken and workload, with some reporting up to a 33% rise in daily steps.
The union believes most of the leavers are new, part‑time staff and that the model is not working in hundreds of offices.
Royal Mail says the reforms aim to make the service more efficient and financially sustainable.
It is not yet clear how long the pause will last or what specific corrective actions Royal Mail and the union will agree on to stabilise staffing levels.
Background
Royal Mail introduced delivery model 26 (DM26) earlier in 2026 to improve performance by changing route patterns and delivery frequencies. The change was part of a response to regulatory updates to the Universal Service Obligation.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has been monitoring the rollout, noting that while DM26 works in about 500 offices, it has caused significant problems in many others, leading to increased staff turnover and concerns about a "nightmare" Christmas season.
In response to the mounting issues, the CWU called for a halt to further implementation on 9 October 2026, prompting Royal Mail to seek immediate negotiations to address the concerns.
Questions people ask
What is delivery model 26 (DM26)?
DM26 is a new routing system that groups postmen into teams of three, changes walking patterns, and limits second‑class mail to delivery every other weekday while guaranteeing daily first‑class and parcel delivery.
Why did the CWU call for a pause to the rollout?
The union said the model is failing in hundreds of offices, increasing workload and causing high staff turnover, so a pause is needed until a credible plan fixes the problems.
Has Royal Mail responded to the union’s concerns?
Royal Mail stated the reforms aim for a more efficient, financially sustainable service and has requested immediate negotiations with the CWU after the pause was announced.
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.