Last Christmas, you gave us first class: Royal Mail turns Scrooge with gift to staff of second-class stamps | Royal Mail

Royal Mail has said it has been “delivering Christmas” for more than 500 years, but this year many workers enjoyed the holiday less after the company downgraded a small gift it gave workers to second class.

It dates back to Henry VIII in 1516. Dating back to his appointment as “master of duties” by Henry VIII, the postal service gave workers a collection of 50 Christmas stamps to recognize their work during its busiest time of the year. In previous years, including 2024, workers had received a book of 50 or 100 first-class stamps, but this year these stamps were quietly converted to second-class stamps.

The reduced benefit has caused consternation among Royal Mail staff. This is the first Christmas since Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services (IDS), was bought by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínsky.

Seasonal stamps have been a popular feature of the service since 1966, after being introduced under Labor chief executive Tony Benn. This year’s edition features Biblical scenes illustrated by British artist Paula Doherty, while previous versions also included illustrator Quentin Blake’s 1993 rendition. Ebenezer Scrooge From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Although the immediate cost of the gift to Royal Mail is limited to some extra printing and delivery costs, a sheet of 50 first-class stamps would be nominally worth £85 because the price had risen to £1.70 in April; This is more than double the price in 2020. A second-class stamp costs 87 pence; This is a potentially significant savings for a business employing 130,000 people.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) said workers were unhappy with the message the change sent.

A CWU spokesman said: “The decision to send second-class stamps to workers this Christmas is an example of how Royal Mail treats its long-standing employees. Although postal workers are disappointed by this latest development, they will continue to provide a first-class service to customers and businesses across the UK as they always have.”

The change comes as Royal Mail reduces second-class deliveries after being allowed to amend its universal service obligation.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Every Christmas, Royal Mail recognizes the hard work of its colleagues in a variety of ways, including frontline bonuses, free stamps and a wider recognition program to thank them for their efforts at our busiest time of year. This year, we’ve added 50 second-class stamps to reflect recent changes to the universal service obligation and help keep mail running smoothly for our customers throughout the festive season.”

While in previous years stamp gifts were usually sent at the end of November, this year’s second class stamps were delivered earlier than expected.

Other gifts in the past have caused consternation among workers, including a packet of seeds and a comb, which were less appreciated by Royal Mail’s bald workers the following year.

An image of a Christmas card sent to workers at Royal Mail this year read: “We’ve been delivering Christmas for over 500 years. We know every gift, card and letter is important – and never more so than at this time of year. At Royal Mail and Parcelforce we don’t just deliver Christmas, we are Christmas.”

The letter was signed by Royal Mail’s management team. It was not signed by the IDS leadership or Křetínsky.