“Skills gulf” means Britain will need to recruit one worker every 77 seconds to meet construction needs February 22, 2017 The UK needs to recruit 400,000 people each year until 2021, or one worker every 77 seconds, if it's to meet house building and construction needs. And London and the South East will need to employ 110,000 people, more than any other part of the UK, making up nearly 30 per cent of the total. A [...]
Now Gatwick Airport workers are being balloted for strike action over “poverty pay” February 21, 2017 Gatwick workers who help passengers with reduced mobility will vote for strike action in a dispute over pay, Unite said today. The ballot, of 200 members, opens on Thursday 23 February and closes on Thursday 9 March. The union has warned that "significant strike action" will go ahead if members back industrial action in the ballot. Unite said [...]
Now maintenance workers have voted for strike action on the London Underground, says the RMT February 21, 2017 Maintenance workers on London Underground have voted for industrial action over claims of a breakdown in industrial relations, according to the RMT union. RMT's executive is now considering the result of the ballot, where 67 per cent voted in favour of a walkout and 88 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. There was [...]
The end of road rage? Your car will soon be able to tell what mood you’re in – then play your favourite music to cheer you up February 21, 2017 Could this be the end of road rage as we know it? Ford might just have a solution in the works as it expects the cars of tomorrow to be able to pick up on minute changes in our facial expression and inflections in our speaking voice. So advanced systems, equipped with microphones and in-car cameras, could [...]
Manchester Airport unveils how its £1bn extension will look as boss calls for more investment in the North February 21, 2017 Manchester Airport boss Ken O'Toole has called on the government to inject more investment into the North as the airport unveiled a new glimpse at what its £1bn expansion will deliver. The airport has released a range of new images showing what it will look like following its £1bn investment, which it announced back in 2015. [...]
InterContinental to return $400m to investors as it unveils special divi and 11 per cent rise in its total dividend February 21, 2017 InterContinental Hotels Group is approaching 2017 with confidence after dishing up a chunky pay-out for investors in its yearly results. The firm, which runs hotels under brands including Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and InterContinental, reported a slightly better-than-expected yearly profit rise and said it will be returning $400m (£322m) to investors via a special dividend and [...]
The case for an infrastructure spending splurge rests on shaky foundations February 21, 2017 As the chancellor prepares his Budget and US President Donald Trump shapes his economic plan, commentators are urging both to engage in significant new spending on transport infrastructure. The conventional case was articulated well by Times columnist Oliver Kamm last week. Only the government can undertake the investment and planning necessary for complex projects such [...]
Great Western Railway launches golden ticket hunt for passengers to win return tickets for city breaks across the South West February 21, 2017 Here's some cheerful news for rail travellers (no, not an end to the Southern saga, sadly). Great Western Railway (GWR) has done some research, polling 2,000 people between 16 and 35, revealing many of the UK's young people (47 per cent) admitting they daydream of getting away and exploring a new place – at least once [...]
London Underground users charged £365m for incomplete journeys February 20, 2017 London’s Tube travellers are leaving themselves open to over-charging by failing to “tap out” with oysters or bank cards at stations on the Underground network. TfL has charged its customers £365m over six years from cards with incomplete journeys, according to figures provided to the Evening Standard. During peak hours, the Tube network charges £7.80 [...]
Unite boss to meet PSA on Friday for clarity over growing job concerns at Vauxhall plants February 20, 2017 Unite boss Len McCluskey plans to meet PSA chief executive Carlos Tavares on Friday to discuss concerns over UK jobs at Vauxhall plants in the prospective deal between Peugeot-maker PSA and General Motors. The union confirmed the plans are for the two to meet at the end of the week, but said as yet there [...]