Marina Alta postal crisis deepens as union warns service is at breaking point

Residents across the Marina Alta could face longer waits for letters, parcels and official notifications this summer after a postal workers’ union warned that the local Correos service has reached a “critical” situation due to a lack of staff.

Union warns of mounting pressure

The Sindicato Libre union says postal workers throughout the Marina Alta are struggling under increasing workloads as vacancies, holidays and absences remain uncovered. According to the union, the shortage is affecting both employees and the quality of service received by customers.

It argues that staff are being asked to cover larger delivery areas while dealing with the extra demand that arrives during the busy summer months, when the region’s population swells with holidaymakers and seasonal residents.

The organisation has described the situation as unsustainable and is calling for urgent recruitment before delays become even more widespread.

Fears over delayed deliveries

The warning comes amid concerns that delayed deliveries could affect not only personal correspondence and online shopping but also important administrative documents, medical appointments and official notifications.

Postal services play a particularly important role in many Marina Alta towns, where large numbers of older residents and international homeowners still rely heavily on traditional mail.

The union believes that without additional staffing, existing employees will continue working under intense pressure while customers experience slower deliveries during one of the busiest periods of the year.

A wider problem across Spain

The concerns in the Marina Alta reflect complaints being raised in other parts of Spain, where unions have repeatedly warned of staffing shortages within Correos. Recent protests have highlighted claims that vacant positions are not being replaced quickly enough, leading to heavier workloads and service disruption in several regions.

Similar warnings have been issued in previous summers in Alicante province, with unions claiming that insufficient staffing has resulted in significant backlogs of letters and notifications during peak holiday periods.

The Sindicato Libre union is now urging Correos to reinforce staffing levels as soon as possible, arguing that protecting both workers and the quality of the public postal service should be a priority before the summer season reaches its peak.