Float worker managed to pick up a paper, Sun and Mail, initially (8)
I believe the answer is:
raftsman
'managed to pick up a paper sun and mail initially' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'float worker' is the wordplay.
'float' becomes 'rafts' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'worker' becomes 'man' (man is a kind of worker).
'rafts'+'man'='RAFTSMAN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for raftsman that I've seen is " someone plying their craft".)