- Royal Mail has reached a deal with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) to scrap Saturday deliveries for second class letters, effective December 2026.
- First class letters, parcels, and tracked items will continue to be delivered Monday through Saturday, with only standard second class mail affected.
- The agreement includes a 4.75% pay rise for some workers and aims to create a more financially sustainable Universal Service.
Royal Mail is set to implement significant changes to its delivery schedules, impacting households across the United Kingdom. Following an agreement with the Communications Workers Union (CWU), the postal service will end second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays. This move is part of a broader effort to modernize the Universal Service Obligation and address long-standing financial and operational hurdles.
Why is Royal Mail ending Saturday second class deliveries?
The decision to adjust delivery schedules comes after persistent criticism regarding rising stamp prices, with first-class stamps currently costing £1.80, and the company’s struggle to meet consistent service targets.
By streamlining operations, Royal Mail aims to stabilize its service quality and focus resources on more time-sensitive deliveries. Alistair Cochrane, chief executive of Royal Mail, stated that the agreement paves the way for essential reforms, aiming to support a more reliable and efficient postal service for customers across the country.
Will my parcels and first class mail still arrive on Saturdays?
Yes. Despite the removal of second-class letter deliveries on weekends, Royal Mail has confirmed that service levels for higher-priority items remain unchanged.
- First-class letters: Delivery will continue as normal, Monday through Saturday.
- Parcels and tracked items: These services are unaffected and will still be delivered on Saturdays.
- Implementation: These operational changes are expected to be fully in place across all 1,200 UK networks by December 2026.
Royal mail CWU deal explained
The agreement includes a 4.75% pay rise for some workers. In exchange, the union accepted the Saturday second class cut, recognising the current Universal Service model is financially unsustainable.
Royal Mail has been under pressure for years. Letter volumes have collapsed while the company remains legally required to deliver to every UK address six days a week. Parcel deliveries have been a bright spot, but not enough to offset the decline. The Saturday cut aligns costs with realty.
Public reaction to Royal Mail service changes
The announcement has sparked a significant public reaction, with many consumers expressing concern over reduced service levels. Online discourse reflects a mix of frustration regarding the state of the postal service and debate over the viability of second-class mail in an increasingly digital world.
Some argue that the shift is a necessary adaptation to economic realities, while others have criticized the move, questioning whether it will effectively address the root causes of the service’s financial challenges.
Conclusion: A necessary cut for a struggling institution
Royal Mail’s decision to scrap Saturday second class deliveries is not a sign of strength. It is a sign of necessity. The company is caught between a legal obligation to deliver six days a week and an economic reality where fewer people send letters. Something had to give.
The CWU agreement and the December 2026 timeline give Royal Mail room to implement the changes without immediate disruption. But the underlying problems remain: falling letter volumes, rising costs, and a Universal Service model designed for a world that no longer exists. Saturday second class is just the beginning. More changes are coming.
When does Royal Mail stop Saturday second class delivery?
The changes are being rolled out throughout the year, with full implementation across all UK networks expected by December 2026.
No, all parcels and tracked items will continue to be delivered from Monday through Saturday as they currently are.
Letter volumes have collapsed while delivery costs have risen. Second class letters are the least profitable segment, and Saturday deliveries are particularly inefficient.