Tube boss vows to fight unions in a bid to modernise the network November 17, 2010 TUBE boss Mike Brown vowed not to back down in his long-running dispute with unions over his plans to cut 800 ticket office jobs. “I want staff to be more flexible, I make no apology for that,” said the London Underground managing director. “We will not run a service that is stuck in the 1960s. [...]
The Tube boss who is battling to rebuild the world’s oldest network November 17, 2010 It has been a tough few months for the new managing director of London Underground. Mike Brown, a company veteran who returned in March, faces his fourth strike over the axing of ticket office jobs in a matter of weeks. Tube unions RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association say getting rid of 800 ticket [...]
FOCUS ON: EAST LONDON BY DONATA HUGGINS November 11, 2010 THE GAMBLE TRADEWINDS, E16 Price: £319,950 If you’ve decided that investing in the British Silicon Valley is worth the risk, properties such as Tradewinds in Wards Wharf Approach are the type of place you should be looking for. The property is situated on the Thames side, close to the Thames Barrier. The apartment featured (right) [...]
Shard starts tenant hunt November 10, 2010 SELLAR Property, the developer of the Shard skyscraper, yesterday appointed four leasing agents to find tenants for the tower and office block near London Bridge. Jones Lang LaSalle and Knight Frank will act as joint sole agents for the 310m Shard tower, while CB Richard Ellis and Colliers International will advise on nearby London Bridge [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 8, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES MERKEL WARNS ON PROTECTIONISM The greatest danger facing the global economy is a return to trade protectionism, Angela Merkel, German chancellor, has warned ahead of this week’s meeting of global leaders in Seoul. In an interview with the FT Merkel suggested that China must be persuaded with “facts and benchmarks” to set a [...]
Tube union in talks to halt strikes November 4, 2010 The RMT union met with London Underground bosses yesterday to try and head off another city-wide strike over staffing levels in ticket offices. Transport for London (TfL) said the talks were constructive, while a spokesperson for mediation body ACAS said the two sides had arranged to meet again next week as part of ongoing negotiations. [...]
The expat life: a tale of two Swiss cities November 4, 2010 CLEAN, efficient, low taxes and great skiing – Switzerland is quite frankly fantastic. Far from being somewhere you are exiled, it’s the sort of place that you should be begging to be sent. And it could happen to you sooner than you think: punitive taxes in the UK have already forced Brevan Howard amongst other [...]
Tube strikes caused major delays but failed to paralyse London yesterday November 3, 2010 A THIRD wave of tube strikes failed to paralyse the capital yesterday as London Underground maintained around 40 per cent of trains despite the walkout. Speculation that another strike will take place over Christmas and New Year eased after the Transport Salaried Staffs Association said they will not recommend the action to its members. Some [...]
CITY SUPER WOMAN BEATS THE BIG BOYS November 3, 2010 CITY SUPER WOMAN BEATS THE BIG BOYS THIS past year hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park for corporate financiers, with company IPOs dropping like flies – particularly in the first half of the year – as nervous investors quaked in their boots. But in that kind of climate, of course, the best really [...]
FirstGroup profit rise fuelled by buses November 3, 2010 Transport operator FirstGroup posted a 14.3 per cent rise in first-half profit, helped by continued strong performances from its UK rail and bus businesses. FirstGroup, whose rail business includes the Great Western franchise running into central London, on Wednesday reported an adjusted pretax profit of £77.7m on sales four per cent higher at £3.07bn in [...]