News digest 24 September 2010
The digest starts off with strike action
in Scotland, followed by Unite’s call to fight
the cuts ahead of the Labour party conference. Elsewhere there is
more detail on the Con-Dem axe, some bad news for Bentley, but
better times for the rest of the car sector and possibly for
cabbies who may no longer have to excuse their French. Finally
after Ken’s selection as Labour’s Londonmayoral
candidate the countdown for Labour leader is almost there.
Wafers of the world, Unite! –
Is the Scotsman’s headline as Unite members working at biscuit
factory Tunnock’s in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, began a 24 hour
walkout yesterday in a dispute over a two per cent pay offer
(Scotsman, Morning Star p3).
Warburton Newport plant at
risk – Breadmaker fears for its plant just four years
after it was opened, 100 jobs under threat (Sun p57).
Asda told to sell –Also on
the food front Asda has been told to sell 47 Netto branches under
anti-competition rules following the May purchase of the chain
(Mirror p56).
Pour your own – On a lighter
note Diageo has announced it plans to roll out pour your own
Guinness in Britain’s bars after a successful trial in Ireland, no
news on what it means for the barmaids (Times p56).
Tyneside Safety Glass cracks?
– Glasses of a different nature as the fifth day of a seven day
strike at Gateshead glass maker sees workers continue their
campaign against the imposition of a pay freeze for the second year
in a row and changes to shift patterns that could add up to a extra
10 hours a week. A second seven day action is planned from Monday 4
October (Morning
Star p5).
There is an economic
alternative – Back on the political front Unite will lead
the call for an alternative economic strategy at next week’s Labour
conference, saying public spending, based on fair taxation
policies, decent public services, growing manufacturing and decent
jobs with fair pay is the way to go (Unite
press release).
The axe falls – And the
Indie (p6) is one of
many papers that report a number of departments have agreed cuts to
departmental budgets with the chancellor. The communities,
environment, foreign office and cabinet office have been given
seats on the cuts star chamber as a result and will get to wield
the knife over other departments, so say goodbye to welfare,
education and the NHS (all papers).
Quango cull leak - And the
Telegraph (p1) has a full
list of the cuts planned for the bonfire of the quangos which will
see thousands of jobs cut, 177 quangos will be scrapped with Defra
(50 axed) and health (30 axed) hit most.
‘easyCouncil’ questioned –
And looking at cuts the Guardian (p11) reports that
Barnet’s so called ‘easyCouncil’ model which would see the council
selling off most services has been challenged by the auditor saying
two years down the line the council had not drawn up a business
plan. This follows on from Suffolk county council’s announcement
earlier this week that it wants to outsource almost all its
services threatening 27,000 council jobs (Mirror p21), Brighton and Hove
county council is also looking into the idea.
Cuts = double dip? – Ireland
moves back into recession as the cuts agenda hits the economy hard,
could the same be on the cards for the UK? Both the Indie (p46) and Telegraph (b1) look at future
economic prospects in the eurozone, they’re far from rosy.
Navy split in two– The
Sun (p7) says defence bosses
have developed plans to shrink the Royal Navy’s battleship fleet by
half.
Generating wind – Most papers
report on the giant wind farm in Thanet going into operation
although the Express (p23)
complains about the level of subsidies for green power.
Deal secured – And in other
air news the BA Iberia deal has been cleared for take off after
pensions issues were agreed, Brutish Airways boss Willie Walsh has
also been made president of the London Chamber of Commerce, he
wants less regulation for business, well of course he does
(Indie p47).
BMI to
Tripoli– Airline announces it will compete
directly with BA by adding a Heathrow-Tripoli route (Telegraph b2).
Bentley recall – But some bad
news for the luxury carmaker which is recalling 1,400 cars over a
problem with the ‘Winged B’ on the bonnet which may not retract in
the case of an accident (Express p29).
Cars boost – But its good
news in general for carmakers as the SMMT reports a 37 per cent
year on year increase in car production to 78,000 vehicles last
month. Nissan saw a 70 per cent rise, and Jaguar Land Rover has
announced it needs a 1,000 more staff at Halewood (Indie p50, Sun p15, Telegraph b8).
Cabbies comprende? – The
Times (p23) reports
London’s taxi drivers to be given training in foreign languages
ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.
Components promoted – Train,
plane and parts maker GKN shows how advanced manufacturing can
boost business, the Telegraph (b5) profiles the
company ahead of its return to the FTSE 100.
Royal Mail’s £5 billion bet –
Evidence emerges company has been playing the derivatives market
with its pension fund (Guardian p28).
Congratulations Ken – And
finally its back to the Labour elections, Ken Livingstone was
backed by London’s Labour party and trade unions to be the
candidate to beat Boris in 2012 while the Times (p14-15), Indie (p27) and Guardian (p6-7) highlight the
battle of the Milibands, it’s declaration day tomorrow…
Edited by Mik
Sabiers
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