TNT Roadfreight eyes up Fleet Street business
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TNT ROADFREIGHT expects to break into more national newspaper distribution on the back of its current controversial distribution work for Rupert Murdoch's News International.
TNT general manager Alan Jones says he is discussing the possibilities of more national newspaper work, hut he would not be drawn on the identity of the companies and papers involved.
But he says he expects to take another slice of work from British Rail — which until a month ago, held the monopoly on national newspaper distribution.
Since then, TNT has carried The Times, The Sun, The Sunday Times and The News of the World out of the printworks at Wapping, East London and Glasgow. in London, TNT has taken the paper direct to newsagents.
All of the drivers are members of the Transport and General Workers' Union and have been instructed by general secretary Ron Todd not to cross print union picket lines.
Jones says that this instruc tion, and print union picketing of the print plants and sonic TNT depots, has been "totally ineffective" on the drivers' hardening resolve to do the job.
Meanwhile. TNT last week issued a statement, agreed by News International and TNT's drivers, which said that News International is willing to meet the Governm en t arbitration body, ACAS,. to discuss the dispute with its print unions.
But British Rail is fighting to win back News International's work, which brings in around 'a third of its £30 no lion newspaper revenue.
It has held a meeting wi News International, ar another is planned, to ma. clear that it is ready to tai the papers back from TNT.
BR will not be drawn whether it will attempt take News International court for alleged breaching contract, if the discussia fail.
• TNT suspended one of i 'Luton-based drivers last Sui day after he refused to cross picket line at Wapping at failed to complete his shift.