Latest figures suggest the UK employment market has been creating more net jobs despite the recession. Even though many parts of the public sector have been making cutbacks, overall unemployment has recently declined.
A revised council cabinet line-up will save around £17,000 in the first year alone. The cabinet at Gloucestershire County Council will be reduced from 10 members to eight, with some outgoing members taking on new short-term ‘champion roles’ which will exist only until the end of each particular project.
MP John McDonnell, chair of the Campaign Group of socialist MPs, addressed the University and College Union conference in the light of strikes over budget cuts at colleges.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) calmed down indignation that Paras would lose in budget cuts what is dubbed a ‘danger payment’ for parachute drops. The MoD stressed the Army was still working through the numbers and said no-one would see their pay drop for at least a year after any change.
The only group where private sector pay was higher than public sector pay was for the top 10% of earners, a report reveals.
Police are advising motorists to avoid an area of Newcastle after it was cleared due to a massive yard fire. A number of explosions were reported coming from the scrap depot in Albion Row, in the Byker area. Employee of nearby Quay Timber, Mark Fawcett, said: “All the scrapyard’s alight. We can see flames about 100ft high.
Nokia is getting rid of around 700 UK jobs as part of plans to cut its international workforce by 4,000 within two years. The mobile phone company said the jobs would go by the end of next year as it looks to reduce costs by one billion euros. In addition, 3,000 jobs will be affected globally by a move to outsource its Symbian software operations to Accenture.
Unite leader Len McCluskey said the settlement of a long-standing industrial dispute with British Airways was “honourable”. The union said BA had agreed to restore travel concessions to staff who went on strike and award a two-year pay deal worth up to 7.5 per cent.
Tube workers will walk out for six periods in May and June after a disagreement with bosses over the sacking of two colleagues. The walkouts are planned for between nine and 24 hours from next Monday (May 16) to Friday (May 20) and again from Monday, June13 to Friday, June 17.
The spectre of travel disruption during the 2012 Olympics has been banished after rail unions have agreed a deal with Network Rail. The agreement secures pay rises and other conditions during next year’s event.