Nearly 60 jobs are at risk at a regional publisher after plans were announced to outsource the distribution of two of its newspapers.
DC Thomson is proposing to outsource the distribution of its titles in Aberdeen, The Press and Journal and the Evening Express, putting up to 59 people at risk of redundancy.
It is now consulting with staff in the company’s transport, circulation and finance departments based in Aberdeen and Inverness.
The company says it is one of the last publishers in the country still distributing its own titles but the cost of this had led to plans to outsource this to a third party.
Ellis Watson, chief executive officer for publishing, said, “We have been working hard to assess how our business can meet the challenges of the dramatic changes in the publishing industry and the turbulent economy.
“We are one of the last publishers in the country still distributing our own titles. The cost of producing and distributing to market is ever-increasing, which is why we’ve had to make this decision to outsource, rather than to see our business decline.
“We are working with our affected staff members to ensure the best possible outcome for each individual during this difficult period.
“By facing the challenges head-on and investing for a new era, we will maintain a strong position on the newsstands and continue our important role as an employer for the future.”
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I remember the days when DC Thomson had a massive fleet of battle ship gray vans and lorrys. They even had the ability to store them all undercover with enough mechanics to service them all. Some of the vehicles didn’t move from one Saturday until the next. The full-time drivers, all great characters, darted about Glasgow during the week delivering newspapers and magazines. One of them, a mad lad called Jim, allowed me as a 16-year-old to drive a Morris Minor Estate from Queen’s Street Station through a busy city centre – I was rather nervous – he found it a great laugh!
Sorry, I’ve got carried away. My point is That DC Thomson have generally looked after loyal staff so for them to implement this as well as change their printing practices shows that times are tough.
Good luck to all affected staff.
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I remember when DC Thomson was the company you avoided because they wouldn’t allow unions through the door. But they’re still independent and latterly, at least until now, have been seen as the Good Guys. How things have changed!
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GladimOutOfit —- DC Thomson did recognise unions many many years ago until a major fall out.
In the late 70’s DCT employed an independent company to ballot the workforce as to whether they wanted union recognition within the group. It was a no.
Most people who worked in the industry in the last 40 years know the unions kept new technology at bay for too long. That is one reason some employers rely on the fact we have nobody left to fight our corner for us. Need any more facts just let me know?
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Thanks for reminding me, boyemployee. Mind, in the late 70s, when we had the last, painful, national strike, there was an enormous amount of disgraceful propaganda against the NUJ (including from the Fleet Street mob who became the BAJ and who shouldn’t have been involved in the first place) and I very much doubt if that “independent” company put a balanced view to the workforce it was ballotting. Moreover, I bet the company wouldn’t have allowed the ballot if it had.
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