Private delivery firms struggle with huge demand as Royal Mail workers strike

Writing on social media, it said the hold-up was because of “significantly increased demand due to Royal Mail and rail strikes as well as the demands of the festive season”.

It said 98 per cent of its orders usually arrive the next working day, but current delays are expected to stretch to two or three business days.  

Thousands of Royal Mail staff gathered for a rally in central London last week to protest against pay and conditions in what they claimed was the biggest postal workers’ demonstration in living memory.

Dave Ward, CWU general secretary, has claimed the “unachievable” conditions proposed, which include starting work three hours later, would “destroy the future of Royal Mail”.

The union has accused the delivery firm of wanting to make the service like a “gig economy”.

Royal Mail is trying to overhaul the 500-year-old business into a parcels-led company to try and compete against rivals such as Amazon.

‘Holding Christmas to ransom’

The firm says it is losing £1million a day, making the status quo untenable.

Nick Landon, chief commercial officer of Royal Mail, has accused the union, which represents 110,000 postal workers, of “holding Christmas to ransom”.

The postal strikes come amid a winter of strike action in the UK, including walkouts planned by nurses, ambulance staff, rail workers, Border Force and National Highways officers.

An Evri spokesman said: “We are sorry that some customers are experiencing short, localised delays in receiving their parcels. We are currently delivering more than three million parcels a day, however like others in the sector, we are experiencing some delays to service due to extremely busy Christmas volumes, Royal Mail strikes and staff shortages.

“Our teams across the country are working extremely hard to address any delays and to make sure parcels are delivered before Christmas. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”

DPD was approached for comment.