Royal Mail has today announced plans to reduce its overall headcount of workers by a total of 10,000 by next August.
The nation’s postal service currently employs 140,000 people right across the UK.
It’s believed that up to 6,000 people in full-time roles will be made redundant by August 2023.
Royal Mail says it plans to cut back on the 10,000 roles through redundancy, for the most part, while the rest will be achieved through natural attrition.
“This is a very sad day,” said Simon Thompson – Chief Executive at Royal Mail.
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“I regret that we are announcing these job losses, [but] we will do all we can to avoid compulsory redundancies and support everyone affected.”
The redundancy announcements this morning come as parent company International Distributions Services said it had a loss of £219 million for the first half of this financial year, with around £70 million of that loss attributed to “direct negative impacts” from three days of industrial action.
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Royal Mail plans to cut up to 6,000 jobs by next August / Credit: Royal Mail
The announcement also comes after Royal Mail workers who are members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) yesterday began a fresh round of strikes over pay, job cuts, and working conditions – with a further 19 days of industrial action yet to come.
Around 115,000 Royal Mail staff notably walked out in what the CWU said was “the biggest national strike of any sector” back in August.
The CWU’s general secretary, Dave Ward, has said previously that workers are facing the “biggest ever assault” on jobs, terms and conditions “in the history of Royal Mail” – but Royal Mail chief Mr Thompson argued in his statement today that “each strike day weakens our financial situation.”
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“The CWU’s decision to choose damaging strike action over resolution regrettably increases the risk of further headcount reductions,” he added.
Featured Image – Royal Mail
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New Mayor Bev Craig announces £20m fund to ‘revitalise’ Greater Manchester high streets
Emily Sergeant
The new Mayor of Greater Manchester has unveiled plans to ‘breathe new life’ into local high streets with a landmark £20 million fund.
Bev Craig says Greater Manchester has enjoyed a decade of rapid economic growth, ‘outstripping’ every other city region in the UK in the process, but now she wants to make sure that everyone can ‘see and feel’ the benefits of that growth where they live.
The new £20m Good Growth High Streets Fund will be made available to local businesses, business groups, and voluntary and community organisations across Greater Manchester to improve their high streets, and will primarily back ideas that can ‘make a real difference’ to good economic growth and restore local pride.
The new fund forms part of the Our High Streets campaign – which will run throughout her first mayoral term to ’empower’ local communities to revitalise where they live, shop, and socialise.
New Mayor Bev Craig has announced a £20m fund to ‘revitalise’ Greater Manchester high streets / Credit: GMCA | Jonny Gios (via Unsplash)
To drive forward this work, Bev is calling on local businesses and groups to join a new High Streets Taskforce, which will help design the ‘ambitious’ plans for the fund and put them into practice across the city region.
Bev launched her high street plans in Middleton yesterday, where she said the ‘passion and ambition’ of local people and the independent business community are already leading to a transformation of the town centre, and there’s potential of even more to come.
“Our high streets are the beating hearts of our communities, and people want to feel pride about where they live,” commented Mayor Bev Craig.
“They are rightly worried and frustrated when they see derelict pubs, boarded-up shops, and dodgy operators, and independent traders moving away. They want to see practical support for local businesses now and that’s why I’m taking action.
“Our new £20 million Good Growth High Streets Fund is all about restoring pride in a vibrant high street, backing our neighbourhoods, and spreading the rewards of good economic growth everywhere.”
The Good Growth High Streets Fund will open for applications later this year.
Featured Image – GMCA
News
Student police officer charged with off-duty rape and kidnap of woman in Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A student police officer has been charged with the rape and kidnap of a woman in Manchester while he was off duty.
Mohammad Hassan, 23-years-old and of Asian-Pakistani ethnicity, has been remanded in custody following the charges, and has been suspended Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
The charges – which have been authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) following a police investigation – relate to reports made to authorities on the evening of Saturday 8 August 2026, which ended in a police pursuit on the M62 in West Yorkshire.
Following the police pursuit, a woman was safeguarded at the scene, and continues to be supported by specialist officers and support services.
Hassan has been charged with oral rape, kidnap, strangulation, sexual assault, theft of mobile phone, and dangerous driving.
He is set to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today (11 August).
“GMP detectives and staff have been working on this investigation throughout the last 48 hours to ensure charges are brought in this case,” explained GMP Assistant Chief Constable, Mark Dexter.
“The victim is our priority, and we are ensuring she continues to receive specialist support. Criminal proceedings must now take its course without interference.
“I understand, and share, the feeling among the public and our thousands of hard-working, decent staff who will have seen this news. Proceedings are underway and necessary action will be decisively taken within the regulations.”
Emily Sergeant -
14th October 2022 
