Community newspaper should be exempt from postal flyer ban
In an attempt to get Canada Post back to the bargaining table, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers is escalating its strike action to include Neighbourhood Mail. Postal workers will not be processing or delivering unaddressed flyers.
This move means Canada Post will lose a large revenue stream, and Canadians won’t get news of the weekly specials from the grocery store. Unfortunately, at this time, it also means that unaddressed community newspapers, government mailings and election related mail will be impacted too.
While we continue to support the union’s efforts to negotiate a fair contract, we believe that community newspapers deserve special treatment. A community newspaper is much different than a flyer. At a time when there is an increasing interest in maintaining and preserving independent local journalism, it feels unfair to target community newspapers.
We join those advocates calling on Canada Post and CUPW to make an exception.
As a client of Canada Post, The Creemore Echo is able to distribute the newspaper for an affordable fee to various neighbourhoods in Clearview and Mulmur. Newspapers mailed to specific addresses require a sticker and cost more, as well as eliminate the inclusive distribution we believe is so important to our community.
Therefore, using the Neighbourhood Mail program is an efficient and economical way to get the newspaper to all mailboxes. The union may be looking for job action that will minimize the impact on residents and place it on Canada Post’s bottom line but people across Canada value their local newspapers (for the most part). We hear regularly from people who lament the loss of their own community newspaper, and say their communities are less cohesive as a result.
A flyer may tell you when you can get a two-for- one sub at Subway but will it inform you of a public meeting you didn’t know you wanted to attend, or an event you don’t want to miss?
If you agree, let your member of parliament know how much you value your local newspaper and hope there is pressure to get Canada Post back to the bargaining table, or for CUPW to exempt newspaper from the ban.
During the strike, subscribers, boosters, champions and patrons are eligible to receive a stickered copy in the mail. If you have not received a notification about this via email please contact our office to be included in this program.
Anyone who wants to receive a digital copy of The Creemore Echo for free by email can sign up at creemore.com.
As was the case during the last strike, we will increase the number of papers being dropped off at dealers and distributors in our coverage area.
