Debenhams scores victory over landlords in High Court battle September 19, 2019 Debenhams has won a High Court battle with landlords to push through its CVA proposal that will lead to store closures. Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley had funded the landlords’ case after his significant shareholding was wiped out when Debenhams went private in a rescue deal. Read more: Sports Direct ‘trying to drive Debenhams into [...]
Asda employees stage fresh protests over contract changes September 16, 2019 Asda employees are protesting across the country over the implementation of a controversial new contract. Protests will take place at nine stores today, including in Leeds, Glasgow and Nottingham, after GMB union members staged demonstrations across the country earlier this month. Read more: Asda under pressure as workers stage nationwide protests Workers have raised concerns [...]
Clintons signs up advisers as greeting card stalwart eyes potential sale September 13, 2019 The owners of greeting card chain Clintons have called in advisers as they weigh up a potential sale of the business. The Weiss family, which previously controlled US firm American Greetings, has appointed professional services giant KPMG to oversee a review of strategic options. Read more: Card Factory delivers sales rise despite challenging consumer market [...]
Serco extends controversial Australian migrant detention centre contract September 11, 2019 Outsourcer Serco will continue running Australian immigration detention centres for the next two years, after the country’s government extended the controversial contract which has already run for a decade. Read more: Serco fined £19m for government tagging contract fraud The agreement means Serco will continue running a divisive facility on Christmas Island, an Australian overseas [...]
British Airways strikes: Airline boss Alex Cruz blames ‘cynical actions’ of pilots for walkout September 9, 2019 British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz has blamed the “cynical actions” of its pilots’ union for a two-day strike that has left airport terminals empty. BA pilots who are members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) have begun a 48-hour walk-out in a dispute over pay and working conditions. Read more: Nearly all British [...]
Nearly all British Airways flights cancelled as pilot strikes begin September 9, 2019 Almost all British Airways flights have been grounded this morning as pilots began a two-day strike action. Members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) working for BA have staged the mass walkout in a row over pay, with another strike planned for 27 September. Read more: British Airways tells passengers to stay away from [...]
British Airways tells passengers to stay away from airport on day of strikes September 8, 2019 UK flag carrier British Airways has told passengers not to head to the airport today if their flights were caught up in one of the biggest pilot strikes in its history. Members of the Balpa pilots union working for BA will walk out tomorrow and Tuesday, with planned strike action – grounding 1700 flights – [...]
M&S’s FTSE exit is a symbol of its terminal decline September 6, 2019 Archie Norman, the Marks & Spencer chairman, put a brave face this week on the retailer’s demotion from the FTSE 100. Nothing to see here, he said: the business was exactly the same on the day after its relegation. Focusing on it was the reddest of herrings. In a sense, he is right – but [...]
Hot weather fails to heat up high street retail sales in August September 6, 2019 Bricks and mortar retailers suffered a further blow last month as soaring temperatures failed to heat up high street sales. Like-for-like in store sales dropped 0.1 per cent in August from a base of minus 2.7 per cent in the same month last year as retailers were unable to convert rising footfall into purchases. Read [...]
Court throws out privacy challenge to facial recognition technology in landmark ruling September 4, 2019 The High Court today rejected a privacy challenge to the use of facial recognition technology in a landmark ruling. The High Court found that the use of automatic facial recognition technology (AFR) by South Wales police was lawful after a challenge by privacy campaigner Ed Bridges who was represented by advocacy group Liberty. AFR technology [...]