This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/12/royal-mail-letter-from-future

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Royal Mail privatisation: letter from the (near) future Royal Mail privatisation: letter from the (near) future
(6 days later)
October 2023 was here, and with it the 10th anniversary of the privatisation of the Royal Mail. But few were celebrating. How could they be? The service had become a bedraggled, unloved version of its former self.October 2023 was here, and with it the 10th anniversary of the privatisation of the Royal Mail. But few were celebrating. How could they be? The service had become a bedraggled, unloved version of its former self.
The posties of old were now delivery officers: sporting far grander titles, but enduring much meaner pay and conditions – and they were far fewer in number. Industrial action had only slowed, not stopped, the race to the bottom. Sure, the strikes were initially effective. But with retrospect, those were still part of the golden age for staff: when over 90% of Mail employees were members of the Communication Workers Union. Then the privatised Mail began aping the other logistics businesses, offering new recruits insecure work – with zero-hours contracts and all the rest. So began a two-tier workforce: the "legacy" staff and the new, casualised workers. Yet the truth was that posties had never enjoyed great pay. Back in the autumn of 2013, basic pay for the men and women who slid letters through boxes was £19,000 – below the median wage. And delivery was only part of the service: there were countless lonely souls up and down the country for whom the postman or woman was the only visitor all day, their human lifeline. By 2023, there were far fewer human lifelines around; far fewer posties stopping to exchange a word with the widower whose arthritis meant he couldn't get out much.The posties of old were now delivery officers: sporting far grander titles, but enduring much meaner pay and conditions – and they were far fewer in number. Industrial action had only slowed, not stopped, the race to the bottom. Sure, the strikes were initially effective. But with retrospect, those were still part of the golden age for staff: when over 90% of Mail employees were members of the Communication Workers Union. Then the privatised Mail began aping the other logistics businesses, offering new recruits insecure work – with zero-hours contracts and all the rest. So began a two-tier workforce: the "legacy" staff and the new, casualised workers. Yet the truth was that posties had never enjoyed great pay. Back in the autumn of 2013, basic pay for the men and women who slid letters through boxes was £19,000 – below the median wage. And delivery was only part of the service: there were countless lonely souls up and down the country for whom the postman or woman was the only visitor all day, their human lifeline. By 2023, there were far fewer human lifelines around; far fewer posties stopping to exchange a word with the widower whose arthritis meant he couldn't get out much.
The deterioration in service sped up after statutory protection of the Universal Service Obligation wound up in 2021. Under the old rules, the Royal Mail had to deliver post from John O'Groats to Land's End six days a week, at the same price for all postcodes. As the private managers of the Mail had argued for years, that was a more stringent requirement than that set out in European law for a merely "affordable" service five days a week. So again there was a two-tier service: big-city residents were well served; those who lived in the countryside suffered. Plus, the new bosses didn't want to keep the same number of postboxes, so those in rural areas had to schlep further simply to send a letter. Delivery and sorting offices in inner-city locations were flogged off to property developers, forcing customers to trek miles to far-flung light-industrial estates.The deterioration in service sped up after statutory protection of the Universal Service Obligation wound up in 2021. Under the old rules, the Royal Mail had to deliver post from John O'Groats to Land's End six days a week, at the same price for all postcodes. As the private managers of the Mail had argued for years, that was a more stringent requirement than that set out in European law for a merely "affordable" service five days a week. So again there was a two-tier service: big-city residents were well served; those who lived in the countryside suffered. Plus, the new bosses didn't want to keep the same number of postboxes, so those in rural areas had to schlep further simply to send a letter. Delivery and sorting offices in inner-city locations were flogged off to property developers, forcing customers to trek miles to far-flung light-industrial estates.
What had it all been for? Private investment? Taxpayers were subsidising upgrades to postal infrastructure – and paying for the pensions book. No wonder that in 2013 the public, the staff and even (it was rumoured) the Queen were anti-privatisation. But by 2023, parents could only reminisce about when the centuries-old Royal Mail was a trusted part of the social fabric. Their kids had no idea what they were on about. Still, it was rumoured the service's name would be changed next year. Snail Mail, it was to be called. Suitably postmodern.What had it all been for? Private investment? Taxpayers were subsidising upgrades to postal infrastructure – and paying for the pensions book. No wonder that in 2013 the public, the staff and even (it was rumoured) the Queen were anti-privatisation. But by 2023, parents could only reminisce about when the centuries-old Royal Mail was a trusted part of the social fabric. Their kids had no idea what they were on about. Still, it was rumoured the service's name would be changed next year. Snail Mail, it was to be called. Suitably postmodern.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.