Australian mining tax June 29, 2010 YESTERDAY should have been a good day for the miners – it almost was. Having unceremoniously ousted Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the government has lost the upper hand in the battle over a supertax on miners’ profits. Julia Gillard, Rudd’s nemesis and successor, is now trying to enforce a softer version of the levy, although even this [...]
Commuters face rail fare hike in 2011 June 28, 2010 RAIL passengers could face a steep rise in fare prices next year, according to transport secretary Philip Hammond, who said that the existing pricing formula might not survive the tough autumn spending review. Fares are expected to rise by more than six per cent at the start of 2011 but Hammond has warned they could [...]
Network Rail’s £2.2m bonuses for executives sparks outrage June 24, 2010 government and trade unions condemned Network Rail yesterday for awarding its top managers bonuses and incentive payments totalling more than £2.2m. Transport secretary Philip Hammond said: “In the week when everyone has been asked to share the burden of reducing Britain’s deficit, people will rightly be asking how Network Rail’s top executives feel this is [...]
Two-day Tube strike starts June 23, 2010 LONDON Underground maintenance workers began a 48-hour strike at 7pm last night, after last-ditch legal action by employer Tube Lines failed. A High Court judge denied Tube Lines an injunction to stop the strike, despite arguments that the strike ballot was invalid. “We urge the RMT to pull back from taking this needless action which [...]
Retailers will cheer England win but things are about to get much worse June 23, 2010 EVERYONE will be thrilled that England has managed to scrape through the knock-out stages of the World Cup, but retailers are especially relieved. The near-term boost from the tournament will continue a little while longer. Those fans waiting to see if England could come up with the goods before buying a widescreen TV will splash [...]
Public sector pay freeze angers unions June 22, 2010 PUBLIC SECTOR workers are facing a two-year pay freeze, declared by chancellor George Osborne in the emergency Budget yesterday, igniting fury amongst the UK’s trade unions. The pay freeze applies to all public sector workers earning over £21,000, while the 1.7m with wages below that threshold will receive a flat pay increase of £250 in [...]
Public sector pay freeze angers unions June 22, 2010 PUBLIC SECTOR workers are facing a two-year pay freeze, declared by chancellor George Osborne in the emergency Budget yesterday, igniting fury amongst the UK’s trade unions. The pay freeze applies to all public sector workers earning over £21,000, while the 1.7m with wages below that threshold will receive a flat pay increase of £250 in [...]
Nonchalant Nadal enjoys happy return June 22, 2010 WORLD No1 Rafael Nadal marked his first Wimbledon appearance in two years with a comfortable win to waltz into the second round. Second seed Nadal clinched his first grass-court title in 2008, but missed the chance to defend his title last year through injury. But the Spaniard showed he’s not lost any of his flair, [...]
Trade unions set to fight public sector pension reforms June 21, 2010 A NUMBER of the UK’s largest trade unions spoke out yesterday against the government’s plans to review public sector pension schemes. Unison, Unite and rail union RMT warned the government ahead of today’s Budget that plans to cut public sector pensions could be damaging. Dave Prentis, general secretary at Uniso, demanded that the review body [...]
Trade unions set to fight public sector pension reforms June 21, 2010 A NUMBER of the UK’s largest trade unions spoke out yesterday against the government’s plans to review public sector pension schemes. Unison, Unite and rail union RMT warned the government ahead of today’s Budget that plans to cut public sector pensions could be damaging. Dave Prentis, general secretary at Uniso, demanded that the review body [...]