UK postal workers union attacks newspaper subscription plans

Postal workers union the CWU has attacked Royal Mail plans to dispense with the Newspaper Registration Service.

The service is a cut-price method to send newspapers through the post at a reduced rate.

It was set up in the mid-1800s to enable publishers to reach readers living in remote areas. By registering their newspapers with the Royal Mail, users get first class deliveries for second class rates.

Communication Workers’ Union general secretary Billy Hayes is calling on ministers to intervene to reverse the planned scrapping of the service.

He said in a letter to The Guardian: “Royal Mail is still publicly owned and ought to have wider responsibilities than pursuit of the bottom line.

“Ministers should intervene swiftly to ensure this plan is dropped.”

The Newspaper Society is already lobbying to keep the service going in some form.

The organisation, which campaigns for the regional press, fears that if it was scrapped, there would be an adverse effect on local newspapers, 90 per cent of which currently rely on it.

Billy Hayes added in the letter – co-signed by the National Union of Journalists – that the service was “vital” to ensure the access to a variety of news and information on which “meaningful democracy depends”.

He said: “With local newsagents closing at the rate of one a day, the service is more vital than ever. Scrapping the service will only boost the domination of the media by the giant corporations and lead to a narrowing of choice.

“Newspapers are time-sensitive. Readers rely on getting their newspapers as quickly as possible.”

The Newspaper Society estimates 100,000 copies are sent each week using the scheme.

The Royal Mail has offered to work with publishers to find the most effective alternative discounted service.

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