Morrisons Cuts 1,700 Jobs in Shift to New Delivery Service

Morrisons has announced the redundancy of approximately 1,700 workers in the UK as part of a significant shift in its newspaper delivery operations. The supermarket chain sold its home delivery service to News Team Group (NTG) for an undisclosed amount, a move that affects many young workers who relied on these roles for their first jobs.

The redundancies come after Morrisons acquired most of the delivery rounds when it purchased McColl’s Retail Group in 2022. Prior to this change, Morrisons Daily provided newspaper deliveries to around 25,000 households, primarily employing young people working less than eight hours a week. The transition to NTG is described by Morrisons as a step towards offering a “more efficient service.”

Many affected employees received notification of their redundancy via letter, with some reporting they learned of their job loss only upon arriving for their shifts. Ben Peters, a 17-year-old who had been delivering newspapers for nearly five years, expressed his distress over the sudden change. “Losing my job has been very difficult to take in because I’d done it for such a long time. I’ve met so many new people and spoke to them daily, and it was all cut off, almost like I don’t exist,” he said.

Customer feedback has also been largely negative. Peters noted that “90 percent” of his customers preferred to cancel their subscriptions rather than switch to a new delivery company. Many elderly residents, who relied on him for not just newspapers but also companionship, are feeling abandoned by this change. “I spoke to my customers a lot and there was a sense of community,” he added.

As part of the transition, customers were informed that the switch would provide a “faster, more reliable” service, and their deliveries were automatically transferred to NTG by November 9, 2023. However, confusion persists among young deliverers about the timeline of their job losses. Many received letters dated October 28, indicating their roles were at risk, but the exact end date was unclear.

One unnamed teenage delivery worker arrived at work on November 9, only to discover he had lost his job the previous day without prior notice. His mother voiced her frustration, stating, “He had never been told. A letter saying your job is at risk is one thing, but quite another to lose your job without knowing.”

Morrisons has acknowledged the long-term decline in the newspaper home delivery market and stated that the decision to sell the service was made after careful consideration. A company spokesperson remarked, “Following a thorough review, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the service and transition remaining customers to News Team Ltd, which operates the UK’s largest news and magazine delivery network.”

Despite the company’s assurances of a smooth transition, families affected by the redundancies have expressed concern about the loss of opportunities for young people. One parent highlighted the importance of these jobs in teaching work ethic and discipline. “Morrisons are making children’s jobs redundant, taking away the opportunity for many young people to experience their first job,” they stated.

While NTG claims to have acquired 25,000 households from the transition, Morrisons’ press office estimates the figure to be closer to 18,000. The disparity in numbers raises questions about the true extent of the impact on the community.

Morrisons has not disclosed a list of affected stores but confirmed that the changes apply to Morrisons Daily locations nationwide. As the supermarket navigates this transition, the future of young workers and the local communities they serve remains uncertain.