Union slams Ofwat decision on pricing and calls for more action December 14, 2014 Private water companies and the industry regulator Ofwat should be scrapped, according to union GMB. Ofwat’s price determination, published late last week, revealed that water bills in the UK would be reduced by five per cent over the next five years. Jonson Cox, Ofwat chairman, said: “We are bringing down bills so customers can expect [...]
Rochester killed the politics of triangulation – and that’s bad news for Ukip November 23, 2014 Labour and the Conservatives have just gone another 12 rounds with Ukip, and lost. The inexorable rise of Ukip and the Rochester by-election result last week have their origins in strategic calculations made by parties in the 1990s. The rise of the Third Way and the politics of triangulation, pioneered by Bill Clinton, brought to [...]
Ed Miliband re-launches PM campaign with new battle against zero-hour contracts November 17, 2014 Businesses and unions are digging in for an election-year battle over zero-hour contracts and what they mean for workers Ed Miliband re-launched his campaign to be the next Prime Minister last week, with a new attack on zero-hour contracts and the treatment of workers. Businesses hit back immediately, arguing the contracts give workers flexibility, allow [...]
NHS ambulance workers vote to strike October 1, 2014 Members of the GMB union of NHS workers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action on 13 October. Of the ambulance staff who voted, 78 per cent cast their ballot in favour of a walk-out, which will take place between 7:00am and 11:00am. Furthermore, 91 per cent voted for action short of a [...]
Conservatives plan tougher laws to curb public sector strike action July 7, 2014 CONSERVATIVE ministers are drawing up plans to make it tougher for public sector unions to take industrial action, as more than a million council workers, teachers, civil servants and firefighters prepare to take action this week. Cabinet office minister Francis Maude yesterday said they were exploring a “minimum turnout threshold”, where only strikes backed by [...]
Unions voice opposition over Pfizer deal at committee hearing May 13, 2014 MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills committee have heard a host of objections from trade union representatives to the proposed takeover of Astrazeneca by US drugs giant Pfizer. Tony Burke of the Unite union, which represents roughly a third of Astrazeneca staff, said his members feared the prospect of job losses. Both the representatives [...]
Unions threaten to strike after government backtracks on pay March 13, 2014 UNIONS in the public sector are threatening strike action after the government chose to ignore the recommendations of the independent review body for pay, awarding a one per cent increase to some but not all workers in the NHS. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced yesterday that 550,000 NHS workers will get a one per cent [...]
Reactions to the chancellor’s statement December 5, 2013 THE BUSINESS GROUPDirector general of the CBIJohn Cridland The CBI had lobbied the government to cap business rates at two per cent and support business finance. “We have always advocated the dual approach of tackling the deficit and driving growth – the OBR forecasts confirm it is working. Let’s stick with what works. “The pressure [...]
RWE Npower to slash 1,400 UK jobs and shut down three sites November 27, 2013 ENERGY giant RWE Npower is set to cut 1,400 UK jobs and close three sites in the North East of England. A further 570 jobs will be transferred to another provider in 60 days. The lost jobs will be transferred to India as sites at Peterlee, Thornaby and Stoke are shut down. Trade union the [...]
Labour loses union money September 4, 2013 THE GMB union yesterday said it will slash its donations to Labour by £1m a year, in protest at Ed Miliband’s attempts to weaken the role of the trade unions in the party. Its existing £1.2m contribution to party coffers will be reduced to just £150,000 – and it will also curb spending on other party campaigns. [...]