Royal Mail to end Saturday deliveries after strikes cost firm £100m

Royal Mail is set to stop Saturday deliveries (Image: GETTY)Royal Mail is looking to move from a six-day letter delivery service to five. Boss Simon Thompson vowed to do “whatever it takes” to turn the group around after it suffered significant losses. If this happens, it would affect postcodes across the UK.According to the PA news agency, half-year results showed it tumbled to a £219million underlying operating loss in the 26 weeks to September 25 against earnings of £235million a year ago.Three days of strike action in the first half cost Royal Mail some £70million, according to the group. Five days of strikes in October cost it another £30million.Royal Mail faces the prospect of further strikes from workers, while up to 6,000 staff could be made redundant.Mr Thompson, chief executive of Royal Mail, said: “We have always been clear we need change to survive.READ MORE: Post strike threat over Christmas as CWU rejects Royal Mail’s offer”We have started turning the business around and will do whatever it takes.”We would prefer to reach agreement with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) but in any case we are moving ahead with changes to transform our business.”The group is aiming to keep parcel delivery as a seven-day system.Royal Mail currently has a Universal Service agreement with the Government which stipulates a six-day letter delivery service.DON’T MISS:Royal Mail workers plan four days of strikes [ANALYSIS]BBC cuts will kill off our local radio stars [COMMENT]Daughter’s despair as Royal Mail ‘lose mum’s ashes’ in the post [INSIGHT] Royal Mail workers have been striking this year (Image: GETTY) Royal Mail is looking to move from a six-day letter delivery service to five (Image: GETTY)