Docklands Light Railway: Cleaners and security staff launch strike over pay April 1, 2023 Cleaners, security staff and other workers on the Docklands Light Railway have launched a 48-hour strike in a dispute over pay. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) employed by ISS on the London railway have rejected an offer the union said was worth 1.8 per cent. The RMT claimed ISS staff on [...]
Port of Dover authorities ‘deeply frustrated’ as coach traffic suffers long delays April 1, 2023 The Port of Dover has said it is “deeply frustrated” as coach traffic faces “significant delays”. The port, which has declared a critical incident, said the delays were “due to lengthy French border processes and sheer volume”. Additional coach bookings taken by ferry operators for Easter have impacted operations, a statement on the port’s website [...]
Down to earth for Branson’s Virgin Orbit satellite firm as funding dries up and 85 per cent of staff are cut March 31, 2023 Sir Richard Branson’s satellite launch firm Virgin Orbit is to cut 675 jobs – about 85% of its workforce – after failing to secure new funding. The entrepreneur has said he will inject almost £9 million to go towards severance costs. It comes amid reports from the Financial Times that Virgin Orbit’s chief executive Dan [...]
What are Heathrow’s contingency plans ahead of a 10-day strike by security guards? March 27, 2023 Heathrow has announced contingency plans to keep the airport operating despite a 10-day strike by security guards. Members of the Unite union will walk out on Friday in a dispute over pay. A Heathrow spokesman said: “We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers. “Our contingency plans will keep [...]
Airports and power stations to be hit hardest by business rates changes March 27, 2023 Airports, power stations and business headquarters are set to be hit hardest by property tax changes when new valuations come into force next week, according to research. Revenues from business rates – the property tax on commercial buildings – are expected to rise by £1.4 billion, or 4.9 per cent , to £29.9 billion when [...]
No light at end of the tunnel: HS2 delay leading to higher costs as London Euston link nearing £5bn March 27, 2023 Delays linking up HS2 and Euston will mean extra costs and potentially even higher spending, the National Audit Office has warned ministers. A near 50-page report, looking specifically at the Euston element of the much delayed high-speed line, concluded that a “reset” in 2020 had “not succeeded”. It comes after Transport Secretary was criticised earlier [...]
ULEZ row: Khan reassures 90 per cent are unaffected by expansion, as 700K face new charge and ‘massive financial impact’ March 24, 2023 Nearly 700,000 car drivers in London will face a daily £12.50 ultra low emission zone (Ulez) fee when the scheme expands, according to new analysis. The RAC, which carried out the research, said the expansion of the zone from August 29 will have a “massive financial impact on motorists and businesses”. It comes a day [...]
Michael Gove: Four more firms signed up to Grenfell safety contracts after being named and shamed March 24, 2023 Michael Gove said four more companies have signed up to post-Grenfell building safety contracts after he named and shamed some of the firms earlier this month that had not signed up to the agreement. The Communities Secretary had given companies until March 13 to sign up to the agreement aimed at addressing cladding issues following [...]
New laws introduced to boost ship workers’ pay in bid to close P&O Ferries loophole March 24, 2023 In wake of the P&O Ferries scandal, new laws have been introduced to ensure seafarers with close links to Britain are paid the national minimum wage. The move has been taken in a bid to improve working conditions on ships after P&O Ferries decision to fire 800 of its staff last year. Shipowners will now [...]
London loves Thursday! 3.3m use Tube in return to (co-working) office – and the pub March 24, 2023 Thursday is now the most popular day for London workers to head into the office – with over 3.3m jumping on the tube to join colleagues for after work drinks. According to the latest ridership from TFL and WeWork shared exclusively with City A.M, Thursday is now the most popular weekday to travel on the [...]