NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM 

"SUPPORT THE VOICE OF BLIND PEOPLE"
Registered charity Number: 236629

Press Release
Issued by Jill Allen-King MBE, NFBUK Public Relations Officer
Tel: 01702 477899  Mobile: 07850 515100

POSTAL STRIKE HITS BLIND PEOPLE THE MOST

The National Federation of the Blind condemns the action of the Royal Mail for proposing to strike, leaving Blind people stranded.

Blind people depend on their postal deliveries each day for their talking newspapers, talking books from their library's, weekly and monthly talking magazines, Braille bank statements, and personal correspondence (which include the weekly pension) that they cannot get in any other way.   They will also lose access to their weekly radio and television guides.

Sighted people will still be able to go and buy their newspapers; go to their book shops and buy their books and magazines. Blind people cannot do this - we have to rely on our postal deliveries.

Over the past few months our services have been deteriorating . Talking Newspapers have been arriving late and in some cases not at all.

The majority of blind people are elderly and do not have a computer and therefore depend totally on their post.

The majority are housebound and their only hobby is to listen to their talking books and other taped magazines.

Jill Allen-King MBE, who is totally blind, edits two monthly tape magazines for blind people and said the strike would stop these magazines completely. The whole operation depends on the postal service.

Registered Office: Sir John Wilson House, 215 Kirkgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 1JG
Telephone: 01924 291313      Fax: 01924 200244
email: nfbuk@nfbuk.org

Once again blind people are treated as second-class citizens.

Please postmen and women think before you strike.

We depend on you.
12 October 2009