Union leaders are calling for emergency changes to postal services during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Communication Workers Union said daily deliveries should be reduced to three times a week with only parcels, packets and first class mail being delivered on alternate days.
If personal protective equipment is not in place for all workers, offices should stop operations until gloves, hand sanitisers and other equipment has been provided, said the union.
In a letter to the Royal Mail and the Government, it said the company should cease acting as a commercial operation and instead operate as a vital national service, with postal workers given key worker status.
All unaddressed advertising mail should be immediately suspended, and Government contracts enabling public testing and the delivery of official information to the public must be prioritised, it was urged.
Postal workers could check on the elderly and vulnerable to flag up any concerns, collecting and delivering food parcels and medical prescriptions and equipment, said the CWU.
Other suggestions included employees only compelled to work alternate days to enable strict social distancing and total equipment cleansing every day.
