News digest 9 March 2011
Cuts and changes open the digest with cops
in the firing line today before more fears over the health sector
arise, the HSE could no longer surprise, and there’s disgraceful
bonuses at RBS, while a couple of Lloyds top staff could be on
their way. Strikes have spread to Spain, while there is some good
news for Connaught workers, less so for women on yesterday’s
hundredth anniversary of International Women’s Day…
Cops out – The Morning Star leads with
the strap that amid 12 per cent staff cuts, officers are to also
take massive pay cuts. Police Federation refuses to rule out strike
action over wage cuts that could see a fifth of police officers
seeing cuts of up to 10 per cent of their salary following a pay
and jobs review. No government has ever taken on the police force
successfully. Members of the Ruling Council accused the government
of bullying over pay cuts and the Indie (p7) even reports that
they could be planning a protest march ahead of the Royal Wedding,
will the government have to hire private security to ‘police’ their
march? By the way there’s only 17 days until the March for
jobs, growth and justice (Mirror p15, Express p7, Mail p13, Times p8, Guardian p4, Telegraph p1, FT p2, Morning Star p1).
Health cuts – The Mirror (p19) reports NHS cutbacks
could see compensation claims top £1 billion as the cutbacks put
patients at risk according to the charity Action Against Medical
Accidents while the Guardian (p10) sounds a warning
from the Foundation Trust Network – which represents the 136 top
hospital groups – that the cuts put some of the best hospitals and
thousands of jobs at risk. The Indie (p38) also reports that
private healthcare provider Bupa has seen a 72 per cent fall in its
profits due to difficult trading conditions…
Workers at greater risk –
Surprise visits by Health & Safety Executive inspectors may be
scrapped according to a leaked letter seen by Ucatt, only the
chemical, offshore and nuclear industry would be ringfenced
(Mirror p26, Morning Star p5).
Pension changes – And as the
(FT p4) outlines work and pensions
secretary Iain Duncan Smith’s plans for a simplified pension of
£140 a week many of the other papers report on the public sector
pensions scheme ahead of the Hutton report later this week as well
as pressures on final salary schemes which are closing at an
increasing rate (Sun p2,
Express p2, Mail p4, Times p34, Guardian p25, Telegraph p4).
Disgraceful bonuses – And
people who have no need to worry about their pensions are the board
members of the 84 per cent state owned bank RBS. The bank yesterday
revealed it would shell out a £28 million windfall to nine members
of its top team with boss Stephen Hester pocketing £7.7 million.
The Guardian (p24) and
Mail (p4) both quote
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey: "While most
taxpayers continue to suffer during tough economic times the top
bankers at RBS celebrate their ludicrous bonuses. While everyone
else is worried about paying their household bills, these people
are counting their bundles of cash. Instead of cutting police
numbers and slashing public sector pensions this government should
be taking decisive action to stop this 83 per cent state supported
institution from paying the bankers such bonuses. These bonuses are
a disgrace." Nuff said (Mirror p6, Sun p2, Express p5, Times p33, Indie p33, Telegraph p1/b1, FT p1, Unite
release).
Lloyds service boss to go –
But some bankers get their comeuppance. Helen Weir, head of Lloyds
high street banking empire is tipped - by analysts - to go over the
bank’s poor service levels. Archie Kane is also expected to exit in
the board room shake up, expect them to get a bonus for handing in
their notice (Sun p48,
Mail p71, Guardian p24, Telegraph b2, FT p18).
Don’t tax us – And as the
European Parliament votes towards moves for a Tobin Tax on
financial transactions bankers start to moan and are joined by the
treasury fearing it may impact jobs and competitiveness, but they
don’t really say how (Mail p71, Guardian p26).
Fuel duty cut cost outlined –
And warnings about the trailed cut to fuel duty in the budget as
the Indie (p17) says
the move could cost up to £6 billion a year, is Osborne worried
about hitting his general election fund…
Ford’s fortune – And no
worries about funds at Ford as the board is on target to share
bonuses in share close to $98 million after turning around the
company, the company is in negotiations with the United Auto
Workers union about how to share the profits with its workers, the
company posted a $6.6 billion profit last year (FT p22).
Waiting for a train – From
cars to trains it is good news for Network Rail as the train
operators and owner of some of the country’s busiest stations has
seen a five per cent surge in income from sales at stations, no
mention about punctuality (Times p41).
Waiting for a plane – The
Mail (p72) reports that
UK airports aw a 7.4 million reduction in airport passengers to 210
million people as the ash cloud and snow and strikes hit. A couple
of other papers also report on the excuse for snow problems at
Heathrow, yes, it was the wrong type of snow, amazing how companies
get flummoxed by frozen water (Guardian p15, Telegraph p6/b3, FT p2).
Waiting to fly – And many of
the papers report on the threats of strike action by Spain’s
airport staff. The unions called 22 days of strike action which
could see disruption through to the summer, remind me which firm
merged with Iberia earlier this year, ah yes, BA, seems industrial
actions follows Willie Walsh wherever he goes (Mirror p6, Express p1, Mail p2, Times p11, Telegraph p1).
Gibraltar bound – One exit is
Betfair which is taking its gambling business to Gibraltar to save
the 15 per cent betting tax. The company said it will continue to
pay UK corporation tax (Mirror p40, Sun p48, Express p65, Mail p72, Times p41, Guardian p26, Telegraph b2).
Heading off? – And talking of
foreign climes many papers report on rumours over Hague’s poor
performance which could see foreign secretary William Hague
reshuffled out of his role (Express p17, Mail p2, Guardian p9, Telegraph p8, FT p3, Morning Star p3).
Rolls to buy Tognum – And
another foreign target, this time its Tognum in Germany.
Acquisitions would help Rolls Royce consolidate its position in the
ship engine industry, cost expected to be €3 billion (Mail p72).
Some Connaught jobs saved –
Collapsed Connaught’s environmental business has also been sold in
a sale that could secure 3,000 jobs (Mail p37).
Employment rises? – And some
possible good news on the economic front as private sector firms
have started to hire again which City accountants KPMG herald as a
sign the economy is turning, although the report also notes that
while male unemployment fell by 31,000 last year, female
unemployment rose by 71,000 and more than a million women are now
unemployed. The highest number since 1988 (Sun p4).
International Women’s Day
celebrated – And yesterday was the hundredth anniversary
but there’s still so much more work to do. Said Unite’s Dian
Holland: “Over the last hundred years of struggle,
women have won the right to vote and have won the right to equal
pay, ending the legal justification for treating women as second
class citizens. Over the next hundred years, we must end the second
class treatment itself and end women’s poverty and the
underrepresentation of women everywhere.”
(Morning
Star p2, Unite
release)
Pubs code of practice? – And
for anyone preparing to celebrate with a drink then a bill before
parliament today could regulate the way PubCos deal with the way
big leased pub companies treat their tenants which has forced the
price of a pint ever higher, they’ve got my vote (Times p41).
Edited by Mik
Sabiers
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