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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hillsborough: Postal staff refuse to deliver free Sun copies | Hillsborough: Postal staff refuse to deliver free Sun copies |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Postal workers in west Lancashire have said they will walk out if they are made to deliver free promotional copies of The Sun later this week. | Postal workers in west Lancashire have said they will walk out if they are made to deliver free promotional copies of The Sun later this week. |
| The paper has agreed not to distribute the issues in Liverpool because of the continued anger at the way it reported the 1989 Hillsborough stadium tragedy. | The paper has agreed not to distribute the issues in Liverpool because of the continued anger at the way it reported the 1989 Hillsborough stadium tragedy. |
| It is understood six members of staff in Skelmersdale were at Hillsborough on the day of the disaster. | It is understood six members of staff in Skelmersdale were at Hillsborough on the day of the disaster. |
| The Royal Mail said any concerns would be handled "with fairness and dignity". | The Royal Mail said any concerns would be handled "with fairness and dignity". |
| The Sun is planning a nationwide giveaway of more than 20m copies of a special free mini-issue across England on Thursday, with the exception of Merseyside, to tie in with the start of the World Cup. | The Sun is planning a nationwide giveaway of more than 20m copies of a special free mini-issue across England on Thursday, with the exception of Merseyside, to tie in with the start of the World Cup. |
| One Royal Mail worker in Skelmersdale said: "If they try to make us deliver The Sun on Thursday we will refuse and will be suspended and lose a day's pay, but we think principles are more important than money." | One Royal Mail worker in Skelmersdale said: "If they try to make us deliver The Sun on Thursday we will refuse and will be suspended and lose a day's pay, but we think principles are more important than money." |
| Boycott | Boycott |
| The postal staff's stance was backed by Skelmersdale North Councillor Neil Furey (Labour) who said: "Skelmersdale has a strong Merseyside connection and people will be disgusted to receive copy of the newspaper whose coverage after the disaster was very damaging and insulting." | The postal staff's stance was backed by Skelmersdale North Councillor Neil Furey (Labour) who said: "Skelmersdale has a strong Merseyside connection and people will be disgusted to receive copy of the newspaper whose coverage after the disaster was very damaging and insulting." |
| Local MP Rosie Cooper (Labour, West Lancashire) added that any attempt by Royal Mail to force staff to deliver the newspaper, "would be a real strain on the integrity of the postal service". | Local MP Rosie Cooper (Labour, West Lancashire) added that any attempt by Royal Mail to force staff to deliver the newspaper, "would be a real strain on the integrity of the postal service". |
| A spokesman for The Sun said it had exempted Merseyside postcodes from its promotion, adding, "the Skelmersdale issue is a matter for the Royal Mail". | A spokesman for The Sun said it had exempted Merseyside postcodes from its promotion, adding, "the Skelmersdale issue is a matter for the Royal Mail". |
| A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Any concerns about this delivery in Skelmersdale will be handled sensitively with fairness, dignity and fully respecting the views of individuals." | A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Any concerns about this delivery in Skelmersdale will be handled sensitively with fairness, dignity and fully respecting the views of individuals." |
| Carl Webb, the Communication Workers Union's regional secretary, said this was not an official dispute but the union was seeking mediation with management. | Carl Webb, the Communication Workers Union's regional secretary, said this was not an official dispute but the union was seeking mediation with management. |
| There has been a sustained campaign to boycott the newspaper on Merseyside since it published an article four days after the disaster, headlined "The Truth", which made allegations about fans' behaviour at Hillsborough. | There has been a sustained campaign to boycott the newspaper on Merseyside since it published an article four days after the disaster, headlined "The Truth", which made allegations about fans' behaviour at Hillsborough. |
| It published a full page apology in 2004 and, in 2011, James Murdoch, the then executive chairman of its parent company News International, issued a further apology on the paper's behalf. | It published a full page apology in 2004 and, in 2011, James Murdoch, the then executive chairman of its parent company News International, issued a further apology on the paper's behalf. |