Panic over (for now at least): National rail strike cancelled after RMT, TSSA suspend action; operators Virgin Trains, First Great Western, South West Trains, Southern, Southeastern CrossCountry respond May 21, 2015 The RMT has withdrawn from the national rail strike which was scheduled for bank holiday Monday. It follows a similar move by the smaller, sister union TSSA earlier today. The main transport union has suspended the planned action, which would have put as much as 90 per cent of the country's trains out [...]
The Trade Union Bill is welcome, but with a few changes it could be even better January 5, 2016 Despite the occasional headlines, industrial disputes at businesses are rare. Indeed, acceptance of slow wage growth by employees during the recession was one of the reasons the UK avoided the devastating job losses that have crippled many continental economies. But we again start the year with the threat of industrial action hanging over the UK. [...]
UK national rail strike: Disruption could ruin bank holiday Monday, cause train travel chaos and cost Britain £600m May 18, 2015 Yesterday’s peace talks continue into today in a bid to avert a strike that could cost Britain £600m. In terms of timing, next week’s proposed national rail strike, the first in 21 years, could hardly be worse. Starting on Bank Holiday Monday, the planned day-long industrial action by 25,000 workers would cut short [...]
Worst batting among semi-final sides? No chance, England are knockout March 30, 2016 I saw a poll that rated England’s batting line-up as the worst among teams that reached the World Twenty20 semi-finals. I just don’t see it – they have one of the best batting units in the world in the shortest format of the game. England chased down 154 with minimal fuss to beat New Zealand and they [...]
Sophie Christiansen interview: Five-time Paralympic champion on why City banking job is vital to her success March 28, 2016 Coding statistical models at one of the City’s leading financial institutions is not everybody’s idea of downtime but for Great Britain dressage rider Sophie Christiansen it offers a therapeutic release from para-equestrian dominance. Christiansen is a five-time Paralympic champion, having claimed triple gold at Greenwich during London 2012 aboard her horse Janeiro 6, affectionately known [...]
Rail workers to strike, disrupting trains for 48 hours on 25th of May bank holiday after latest Network Rail offer falls short of RMT union expectations May 15, 2015 Network Rail workers will strike for 48 hours on bank holiday Monday, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said today. The strike has been looming since 80 per cent of members voted in favour of industrial action earlier this week. Network Rail's latest pay deal – a one-off £500 payment to staff and three years [...]
Bad news, commuters: Southern Rail conductors have just voted for a strike December 15, 2015 Bad news, Southern Rail commuters: conductors working for the train operator have voted in favour of a strike over staff shortages. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said 70 per cent of staff balloted on the issue voted for the action to take place. The ballot result will now be considered by RMT’s executive, [...]
Why modern managers need these five vital old-school skills February 9, 2016 Managers have been around for millennia. But even with this much collective experience, the Chartered Management Institute’s (CMI) research shows that four in five are still “accidental managers” – those that find themselves in the role without proper practice or training. Some insight into why is provided by the finalists of CMI’s Management Book of [...]
How Instagram and other social media sites are writing a new chapter in the history of street photography September 7, 2016 "Look: phone, phone, phone – they’re all just looking at their phones.” For a roving street photographer like Ronya Galka, capturing Londoners’ candid moments has got a lot harder since our social lives moved online. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg; like the publishing and music industries, photography has been put through a [...]
Syria crisis: RAF jets hit oilfield In second round of air strikes December 5, 2015 UK jets carried out the second wave of airstrikes Syria yesterday night, in a bid to destroy Islamic State (Isis) controlled oil fields, which the British government says are being used to fund terror attacks on the West. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said that two Tornado jets, and for the first time, two Typhoons carried out eight attacks [...]