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Newspaper deliveries set to be hit by drivers’ strike action

menzies-warehouse-and-lorry-800x300Newspaper deliveries are set to be hit next week as a result of strike action by staff of a major news distribution firm.

Around 300 packers, pickers and drivers employed by Menzies Distribution have voted in favour of strike action and industrial action following a dispute over pay and conditions.

Members of the Unite union plan to take strike action on 23 and 26 September.

But a senior industry leader has claimed that newspaper readers are being used as a “bargaining chip” in the dispute and urged both sides to get round the table.

Menzies Distribution managing director Mark Cassie says the company has put in “robust” contingency plans in the event that any industrial action by the union goes ahead and are confident retailers will experience no disruption to services.

The National Federation of Retail Newsagents tweeted that newspaper deliveries were under threat and will keep its members informed of developments.

John McLellan, director of the Scottish Newspaper Society, said:  “It is very disappointing that newspaper readers are being used as a bargaining chip in this dispute.

“We can see no reason why both sides cannot get back round the negotiating table and come to an agreement.”

2 comments

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  • September 17, 2016 at 12:07 pm
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    In times when newspaper circulation is dropping like a stone and all jobs are under threat lets go on strike – who knows companies may do a U-turn and employ their own drivers to protect or even go digital!

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  • September 19, 2016 at 7:48 am
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    when we had a regional newspaper industry to speak of ,this would have made a big impact on sales and been a good bargaining tool,now with so few copies sold and papers way down the list of sources of local news,this will have little effect,other than to concern the publishers that they might lose even more daily sales than they can afford to,its not about the readers anymore,its not been about the readers for a long time,its just shifting numbers

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