POSTIES are marking their ninth annual Postal Workers’ Day today, celebrating the work of more than 100,000 staff delivering mail to every village, town and city in Britain.

And they hope the public will support them by recognising their work — particularly their key role making sure that every home gets its mail during the coronavirus crisis.

In contrast, Royal Mail management’s contribution has been to insist that postal workers continue to deliver non-essential advertising mail throughout the crisis.

The Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) says that Postal Workers’ Day celebrates “the hard work and dedication of hundreds of thousands of postal workers" who collect, sort and deliver letters, parcels and packets to 29 million addresses, six days a week, in every village, town and city in Britain.

“It is particularly pertinent this year during this crisis. Postal workers across the UK are working around the clock to make sure every community gets their mail,” the union said.

“Despite hugely challenging times, CWU members are keeping the country connected. From delivering essential items to checking on the elderly and taking shopping to the most vulnerable in society, we have seen thousands of examples of local postal workers stepping up.

“During the crisis, Royal Mail have still forced our members to deliver advertising mail, and they refuse to meet regularly with the CWU at the highest level.”

The union also accused senior bosses of “running the company from outside of the UK.”

“When you acknowledge your local postal workers today, know they are serving you despite senior management and not because of them,” it said. “Postal workers across the country are doing a fantastic job. It is sad that senior management have not recognised the efforts of our members but the public have.

"The sight of posters in windows, drinks left on doorsteps or even a simple thank-you mean the world to our members.

“Please let your postie know how appreciated they are by thanking them or posting on social media using #PostalWorkersDay.”

The Royal Mail had not responded to requests for comment at the time of going to press.