Royal Mail workers stage walk-out after two colleagues test positive for coronavirus

Postal workers staged a mass walk-out this morning after two of their colleagues tested positive for coronavirus.

Dozens of Royal Mail workers at the Stoke Delivery Office downed tools and left the building over concerns that the risk of infection was not being taken seriously enough by management.

But the stand-off was resolved after managers agreed to carry out an ‘intensive clean’ of the site.

Royal Mail says all workers have now returned to work, and insists that it takes health and safety issues ‘very seriously’.

The two workers who tested positive for Covid-19 are recovering at home.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “There was a minor disruption to service this morning following two confirmed positive cases for coronavirus at Stoke-on-Trent Delivery office. They are now recuperating at home and we wish them a speedy recovery.

“We have carried out an intensive clean of the site and have organised additional cleaning of key touch points and all communal areas. Working with our people, we have resolved any areas of concern. All colleagues have returned to work. Royal Mail takes the health and safety of its colleagues, its customers and the local communities in which we operate very seriously.”

The incident follows an outbreak at Stone sorting office earlier his month, which saw three workers test positive for coronavirus.

Royal Mail carried out an intensive clean of the facility, with other workers being swabbed as a precaution.

And back in April around 50 workers at Longton Delivery Office staged a walk-out over concerns about the lack of social distancing in the building

Royal Mail and the Communication Workers’ Union subsequently agreed new health and safety measures.

The Royal Mail spokesman added: “Throughout this crisis, every decision we make puts the health of our people and customers first. We have put in place a range of preventive measures to protect both our customers and our colleagues. We were the first UK company to put in place social-distancing measures in relation to parcel delivery. We pioneered contact-free delivery. We are temporarily not handing over our hand-held devices to customers to capture signatures.

“As well as encouraging good hand hygiene, standard ways of working have been revised to ensure that colleagues maintain appropriate social distancing at all times. All staff have been briefed about the social distancing measures jointly agreed by local management and the CWU. This has been supplemented with visible reminders such as posters and one-way floor markings.”