Sadiq Khan says ‘talking is better than walking’ as he urges unions to call off Elizabeth line strike January 10, 2023 Sadiq Khan has urged rail unions to call off their planned strike on the Elizabeth line this week and encouraged them to get back to the negotiating table, saying that “talking is better than walking.” Rail platform workers on the line from unions TSSA and Prospect are set to down tools on Thursday after rejecting [...]
Rail strikes: Huw Merriman praises ‘constructive’ meeting with unions January 9, 2023 A meeting between the biggest rail workers’ union, train operators and the government, aimed at resolving the bitter dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, has been described as “constructive”. Leaders of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) met employers and rail minister Huw Merriman following the latest industrial action, which crippled services last week. Merriman said: [...]
Sunak is right in taking on the unions, but anti-strike laws are no silver bullet January 9, 2023 Strike action doesn’t have to be very extensive to send British society into fits of frightening folk memories of the 1970s. People murmur knowingly about a winter of discontent coming back to haunt us from the past. Real connoisseurs will recall the Army being brought in, ageing Green Goddess fire engines wheeled out to cover [...]
To be an attractive location the City needs an innovative offer, starting from transport January 9, 2023 For many City workers, after a week of working from home due to rail strikes, today will be the first day back in the office. People across the Square Mile will hope that the new year brings a swift resolution to the railways’ industrial action. We all want to return and help the City unlock [...]
Rishi Sunak hits back at critics of inflation promise but warns government ‘can’t help anybody’ if prices don’t fall January 8, 2023 Rishi Sunak has today claimed halving inflation by the end of the year – one of his five promises to the British public – will happen “because of the plans [the government] have put in place”. Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, the prime minister doubled down on a series of pledges [...]
RMT accuses train operators of profiteering as rail strikes drag on January 7, 2023 Train companies at the heart of the long-running rail dispute have made hundreds of millions of pounds in profits since the government put them on new contracts when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, a union claims. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said while rail workers have had their pay frozen in the same period, [...]
Puttshack and Bounce chief: Pubs and restaurants urged to ‘get creative’ instead of expecting government support January 6, 2023 The government can only do so much to help hospitality businesses amid turbulent times, with firms needing to “get creative”, the boss of the Puttshack and Bounce brands, told CityA.M. Pub and restaurant bosses have long been calling for more government to help it charter tumultuous waters, in the form of a VAT cut and [...]
Pubs: As record number predicted to go bust in 2023 hospitality guru urges gov to lift sector from ‘the abyss’ January 6, 2023 A record number of pubs, clubs and restaurants could go to the wall this year without more support, warned a leading industry voice.
Government to push through laws which would ban strikes among some public sector workers January 5, 2023 The UK Government is to introduce a set of strike-busting laws as public sector unions continue to ballot members on ongoing industrial action. The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced the introduction of a bill in Parliament over the coming weeks, Over recent months, strikes – especially those on the railway [...]
London’s congestion levels soar as train drivers’ strike wreaks havoc January 5, 2023 London’s congestion levels soared this morning as the train drivers’ strike forced millions of commuters to drive into the capital. Data published today by Tomtom shows that congestion levels were between 42 and 62 per cent earlier this morning, up from an average of between 30 to 50 per cent. “Today’s rail strike has yet [...]