Christmas strikes: Border Force to walk out for eight days December 7, 2022 Border Force staff working at several UK airports will strike over the Christmas period in a long-standing dispute over jobs and pay. Members of the union PCS will walk out between 23 and 26 as well as 28 and 31 December at several UK airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, [...]
Christmas chaos: Sunak threatens new widespread strike-busting laws December 7, 2022 Rishi Sunak is now looking at new widespread strike-busting legislation as the UK gets ready for a winter of disruption. Sunak announced during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today that “I have been working for new tough laws to protect people from” increasing strike action, with Number 10 announcing they will go beyond transport strikes. Number [...]
Transport secretary: Minimum service level laws not happening anytime soon December 7, 2022 The government’s legislation on guaranteeing minimum service levels during strike days will not be debated anytime soon, according to transport secretary Mark Harper. Introduced in Parliament following this summer’s rail strikes, the bill’s second reading hasn’t happened yet and can’t be expedited due to a perceived lack of cross-party consensus. The secretary also said the [...]
easyJet avoids French Christmas strike with eleventh-hour pay increase December 7, 2022 easyJet has prevented a strike in France over Christmas after offering a pay increase to cabin crew staff at the eleventh hour. The low-cost carrier has put on the table a 7.5 per cent salary increase in addition to a €3,000 bonus (£2,600), which was accepted by the French union SNPNC. “easyJet is pleased to [...]
Tube trips in shopping hotspots hit one million as people fall for Christmas frenzy December 7, 2022 Trips on the tube to key shopping centres have reached pre-pandemic levels, as the Elizabeth Line and Christmas rush boosts retail. More than one million entries and exits were recorded on 3 December at stations such as Oxford Circus, Knightsbridge and High Street Kensington, figures published today by Transport for London (TfL) showed. Tottenham Court [...]
Quiz swings to profit as it heads into Christmas party dress season December 7, 2022 Fashion retailer Quiz has continued to bounce back after a torrid lockdown, swinging back into the black in the first-half of the year. The retailer – which operates 62 stores in the UK and an e-commerce platform – posted a £1.8m profit before tax, for the six months to 30 September. It had suffered a [...]
FTSE 100 dragged down by strike sensitive stocks tumbling December 6, 2022 London’s FTSE 100 was dragged down today by companies that will likely suffer amid additional rail strikes over Christmas. The capital’s premier index dropped 0.61 per cent to 7,521.39 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, fell 1.19 per cent to 19,100.08 points. [...]
December strikes: Who’s walking out when and how will it affect you? December 6, 2022 December is set to be a month blighted by industrial strife, with everyone from nurses and posties to train drivers and security staff to walk out. With inflation reaching a 41-year high at an eye-watering 11.1 per cent, thousands of workers have voted to down tools and ask for a real-term increase in pay. As [...]
Have a Very Malty Christmas: The best festive whisky December 6, 2022 With Christmas just around the corner, time is running out to restock drinks cabinets or buy gifts for your whisky-loving friends and family. Celebrate the season in style with this eclectic selection of exceptional Scottish whiskies. Ardbeg Wee Beastie The youngest release in Ardbeg’s core range, the five year old Wee Beastie is anything but [...]
Strikes: Sunak convenes cabinet as Number 10 tells RMT to reconsider pay offer December 6, 2022 Rishi Sunak has sent a fresh warning to unions ahead of upcoming Christmas strikes, with Number 10 urging transport union bosses to reconsider the current pay offer. Number 10 said National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) boss Mick Lynch should take the current pay offer “seriously” as it is “generous and fair”. [...]