The nation's postal service currently employs 140,000 people right across the UK.
But it is now believed that up to 6,000 people in full-time roles will be made redundant by August 2023.
Royal Mail has today announced plans to reduce its overall headcount of workers by a total of 10,000 by next August,reports The Manc.
The nation's postal service currently employs 140,000 people right across the UK.
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.
"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.
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."
"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
UK News
Leeds City Council granted £1.6m to tackle rough sleeping by Christmas
A £1.6m grant has been given by the government to Leeds City Council to help tackle rough sleeping.
The funding has been allocated to Leeds City Council as part of the Government’s national Rough Sleeping Programme.
The overall target is to help rough sleepovers off the streets by Christmas through providing safe accommodation.
The council have said that voluntary organisations and charities will be able to help them reach this target.
The council report said: "This funding will be used for immediate interventions to ensure all those rough sleeping have an offer of accommodation by Christmas and support longer term sustainment of accommodation.
“The initial target is to provide a suitable offer of accommodation for everyone who is rough sleeping by Christmas 2026.
“Providing a path into supported accommodation and independent living is the key objective and sustaining this independent living with, where necessary, ongoing support to prevent any return to rough sleeping and homelessness.”
The government announcement spoke of the scheme: "The programme is intended to support people experiencing rough sleeping.
"People experiencing rough sleeping may have differing entitlements to housing and support depending on their individual circumstances, including their immigration status and eligibility for public funds."
The funding is intended to help provide immediate support for people currently sleeping on the streets, while also helping them access longer-term accommodation and the support needed to maintain independent living.
By working with local charities and voluntary organisations, the council hopes to ensure people are not only offered a place to stay but are also given the help they need to avoid returning to the streets.
M&S launches massive recruitment drive in Leeds with hundreds of jobs available
Emily Sergeant
M&S has launched a massive recruitment drive across Yorkshire.
With the festive season fast approaching, and most British stores having already unveiled their Christmas ranges for 2026, one of the country’s largest brands has launched a massive UK-wide seasonal recruitment drives to gear up for what is always one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry.
M&S has announced it will recruit for plenty of new colleagues across the UK.
As mentioned Christmas is one of the busiest moments of the year for M&S, and seasonal colleagues play a ‘vital’ part in delivering that.
Image: Supplied
New recruits will be tasked with helping M&S deliver a ‘brilliant’ service for customers.
Stores with vacancies span the whole of Leeds - including city centre, Moortown, Crown Point, White Rose Shopping Centre and Pudsey.
M&S says the roles are ‘fast-moving and hands-on’, with colleagues required to work together to make sure customers still get the very best of M&S, even at its busiest.
The roles will pay £13.41 per hour, with successful applicants receiving the training, tools and support needed to get up to speed quickly.
“We can’t wait to welcome over 300 new colleagues to our store teams here in Greater Manchester,” commented Zeba Khan, who is the Regional Manager at M&S.
“As we get ready for our busiest time of year, it’s a great opportunity to join us and help bring a magical M&S Christmas to our customers.
“We have a range of opportunities available, whether joining our city centre flagship or our fresh market-style foodhalls. We’re looking for colleagues who are passionate about delivering great customer service and being part of a team.”
Fancy it then? Applications are now open, and you can find out more and apply on the M&S Christmas careers page here.
The Hoot -
14th October 2022 
