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COUNCILLORS on Derry City and Strabane District Council are to seek a meeting with Royal Mail amid ongoing complaints over postal delivery delays and claims that parcels are being prioritised over letters.
It comes in response to growing complaints from local residents who have not received letters, particularly over the festive period.
In some cases, many say they are missing out on important missives including medical appointments and bills.
At a meeting of council’s Business and Culture committee, councillors said Royal Mail management must address the issue, with members unanimously agreeing to seek a separate meeting with the service and the Communications Workers Union (CWU).
Tabling the proposal, People Before Profit councillor, Shaun Harkin, said delays were being experienced across the city and district.
“I’m sure people are aware of the frustrations that have developed from both postal workers and those residents across the city and the district who have been frustrated about the fact that their letters haven’t been delivered,” he said.
“This is an ongoing issue. We have met with Royal Mail management many times.
“I recall the last meeting that we had in Strabane at the council offices where we were guaranteed that, and this is coming from Royal Mail themselves, that we were guaranteed that the issues we were raising would be addressed.
“That they acknowledged that the fact that Derry and the North West received a lot of parcels, meant that they would make plans; one to hire more workers but also to ensure that the letters went out on time.
“They just simply have not followed through on this. In fact, it looks like it’s getting worse.”
The CWU recently said 40 additional workers from England were brought in over the Christmas period to help with mail and parcel deliveries at the city’s sorting office, but councillor Harkin some residents have “received important letters a month late.”
“This is very frustrating,” he added. “I would like to propose that we agree that we need to have an urgent meeting with Royal Mail management for them to explain what’s happening.
“We should also organise a separate meeting with the union to hear what their proposals are because they do have proposals.
“And I think it’s only through talking to the workers that we can get a real insight into what’s actually happening.”
Councillor Harkin also supported the CWU’s demands for investment into the processing hub at Great James Street in the city.
He added: “Royal Mail management has been trying to blame congestion for the problem, but I’ve talked to workers and they’re saying that a lot of these issues could be easily resolved but that management just won’t listen.
“There’s not enough preparation, and ultimately there’s not enough investment.”
DUP Alderman, Julie Middleton, seconded the proposal and called for “urgent solutions” from Royal Mail
“In the rural areas, I know of a large number of people who are hugely frustrated, missing appointments, bills that are coming really, really late – which actually affects our farming communities in terms of their water and their power – and elderly people who rely on their postal communication,” she said.
“I do want to put on record again that our on the ground Royal Mail postal workers are exceptional.
“I don’t think they’re in any way to blame. They’re under serious pressure but we must acknowledge that the management have to provide urgent solutions district-wide for all our residents.
“I know someone who paid for next day delivery and it landed four weeks later.
“So, you’re paying for service and you’re not getting it.”
She added: “The management of Royal Mail needs to get their act together and get this problem started.
“It’s been going on for far too long and we’ve had promise after promise… but the issue is is very real and it does exist.”
The SDLP’s Sean Mooney said it was clear “systemic issues” had not been resolved following the previous meeting.
“These are deep rooted. The evidence is there. Everybody in this chamber has probably had late letters over the last while,” he commented.
“It’s simply not good enough. We were told they were going to do better, but they haven’t done better.”
“We are also being told anecdotally by other people that parcels are being prioritised over letters.”
The UUP’s Alderman Darren Guy said constituents have been “waiting on mail for months”.
“I know a guy who was waiting on a cheque from Claudy. He lives in Drumahoe – it took 42 days for that cheque to arrive in his house,” he said.
“That shows the situation we face because the mail’s that bad.
“I know that the media have been covering this over the past week and it seems like it’s some new phenomenon, but really this has been going on for three years now. It’s not good enough.”
Sinn Féin’s Antaine Ó Fearghail said he and West Tyrone MLA., Maolíosa McHugh, had met with Royal Mail in its Strabane office last year.
“We were assured that things were going to improve, but as has been highlighted, things haven’t improved,” he said.
“I think it is important that we speak to them, but more importantly, that we speak to the unions to try and get this matter sorted out.”
Party colleague, Aisling Hutton, expressed empathy with frontline staff adding that Foyle MLA., Pádraig Delargy, has called for a formal investigation by Ofcom and the Consumer Council, in relation to the “persistent letter failures”.
She added: “The reports of the worsening backlog and reduced overtime, it’s all there, it’s all to be investigated.
“This is all stemming from management division, understaffing, workload pressures and structural issues at the sorting office, rather than a failure with a postal workers themselves.”
Councillor Hutton said she hadn’t received mail in a six week period, while colleague Patricia Logue had only received Christmas cards last week.
“It’s important that this investigation is done properly,” she added.
“Some of those letters are pretty, pretty important and can have a very negative impact on people, and their family (if delayed).
“I am happy to agree that we need to get Royal Mail back in the room, because it’s impacting the people in this city and district massively.”
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