Unite Calls on Reach to Reconsider Plant Closures in Watford and Glasgow
The union has spoken out against Reach's recent announcement of hundreds of redundancies across its print and online titles, scheduled for September. This move comes as the company shifts its focus towards digital, despite print's ongoing importance in generating circulation revenue.
Piers North, the Chief Executive of Reach, explained the decision, stating, "Print remains a vital component of our business, contributing significantly to circulation revenue. However, our long-term vision is firmly rooted in digital."
He continued, "This strategic consolidation is a proactive step, positioning our business for sustained success. By refining our print operations, we can concentrate our efforts on content and audiences, the core drivers of our business, and accelerate our digital growth, particularly in the area of digital subscriptions."
Jaswinder Singh, representing Unite, expressed concerns, "Reach has a responsibility to provide a clear financial rationale for this decision. Withholding such crucial information from Unite is not acceptable."
Reach assured the BBC that it was adhering to all legal obligations in the information shared with unions and partners, maintaining transparency in its communications.
