LTB 266/26 – Royal Mail Announcement of Up to 2,500 Job Losses
No. 266/26
7th October 2026
Dear Colleagues,
Royal Mail Announcement of Up to 2,500 Job Losses
Branches will by now be aware that Royal Mail has today announced a programme, to be delivered in two phases, which could lead to up to 2,500 job losses across the business.
Royal Mail has confirmed to the CWU that this announcement will not impact frontline Operational Postal Grades (OPGs) working in Delivery, Processing, Distribution or Parcelforce.
During phase one the majority of the proposed job losses relate to managerial grades. There are approximately 183 potential job impacts affecting CWU-grade employees, primarily within Revenue Protection and administrative roles across central and support functions.
While these announcements will undoubtedly cause concern for members in the affected areas, Royal Mail has confirmed that there will be no compulsory redundancies. Redeployment measures will be applied in full accordance with the Managing The Surplus Framework (MTSF).
The CWU will meet with senior management tomorrow to discuss the implications for CWU-grade employees. We will provide a further update to branches and members once those discussions have taken place.
We have also been advised that phase two will focus on operations and Contact Centres, alongside any remaining changes within central and support functions. Any proposals arising from this phase will be subject to separate consultation, with any subsequent changes not expected to be implemented until 2027.
We believe this announcement is further evidence that the company continues to face significant financial and operational challenges that could threaten its long-term future.
This is precisely why the CWU has consistently called on the Government to take a strategic interest in the future of the postal industry and work alongside the company and the union to establish a new vision for Royal Mail that secures its future in the interests of workers, customers and communities.
That vision must address the ongoing quality-of-service issues, create a level playing field within the parcels market, reform Ofcom’s regulatory framework, and tackle the growing recruitment and retention challenges facing the industry.
Branches are asked to reassure members that there must be meaningful consultation on the implications of these proposed job losses. Those discussions will begin in earnest tomorrow, and the CWU will fully represent the interests of all affected members throughout the process.
Attached to this LTB is a press release.
Further developments will be reported as they arise.
Any enquiries relating to the content of this LTB should be referred to the DGSP department hford@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Walsh
Deputy General Secretary (Postal)
Andy Furey
Assistant Secretary
Davie Robertson
Assistant Secretary
LTB 266/26 – Royal Mail Announcement of Up to 2,500 Job Losses