Britain could face a summer beer shortage after Stella Artois and Budweiser factory staff agreed to strike over wages, a union warned. Workers at Budweiser Brewing Group’s (BBG) Samlesbury site in Lancashire will walk out for 36 hours on 16 July, with a further 12-hour strike on 19 July. As the cost of living crisis grips the UK, workers have said the current pay rise they’ve been offered isn’t enough. After months of discussions, BBG offered an increase of 3% for 2022 and again for 2023, as well as increased overtime rates. The GMB union called the ‘competitive package’ ‘insulting’, pointing out that it will amount to an overall cut for workers due to inflation. GMB organiser Stephen Boden previously said strike action could lead to a ‘beer drought’. He added: ”We will not be intimidated by [management’s] bully boy tactics. ‘It’s disgraceful they would threaten to take money out of workers’ pockets during a cost-of-living crisis. ‘They continue to ignore … [Read more...] about Beer ‘drought’ warning after Stella and Budweiser workers agree to strike
Hazard pay essential workers how much
Will Turkish workers solve Germany’s problem of flight delays and cancellations?
Germany has faced serious l abor shortages in a range of sectors . That is hardly news. Most recently, however, German airports have been affected, too. After two years of travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people in Germany are now eager to go on holiday. Yet once holidaymakers reach airports, they are all too often confronted with long queues, delayed or even cancelled flights — all because of staff shortages. Given this tense situation, German airports are thinking about recruiting Turkish workers to help out. There are plans to temporarily hire some 2,000 people, chiefly for baggage handling. None of these foreigners would, however, be permitted to help screen passengers as they pass security. And that's the sector in which staff have been especially hard to come by. Time to cut red tape German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Wednesday said the government will support the aviation industry in these tough times. "We are providing short-term … [Read more...] about Will Turkish workers solve Germany’s problem of flight delays and cancellations?
Calls for law change as 32 postal workers are attacked by dogs in the UK every week
Postal workers have been left with permanent and disabling injuries from dog attacks... with more than 1,600 incidents reported in the past year. According to Royal Mail an average of 32 attacks every week were reported across the UK. Sheffield had the most incidents reported during the year to March 31 2022, with 51 posties suffering dog attacks, closely followed by Belfast, with 50, and Tunbridge Wells with 44. The Brighton, Nottingham, and Swansea postcode areas each saw 37 dog attacks on Royal Mail’s delivery staff, while the Newcastle and Oxford postcode areas saw 35 each. A total of 34 were recorded in the PO (Portsmouth) postcode area, while the EX (Exeter) postcode had 32 reports. As in previous years, the majority of dog attacks, 654 (39%), took place at the front door. The majority of attacks took place at the front door ( Image: Moment Editorial/Getty Images) A further 498 (30%) dog attacks took place in the garden, driveway or yard, while 134 (8%) … [Read more...] about Calls for law change as 32 postal workers are attacked by dogs in the UK every week
BT workers to strike for first time since Thatcher privatisation
Tens of thousands of BT workers are to walk out in a national strike for the first time since being privatised under Margaret Thatcher following a row over pay. Some 30,000 workers at Openreach and 9,000 call centre staff have voted to strike against what they described as an “unjust” and “unsustainable” wage deal. However, a ballot of staff working at BT’s mobile subsidiary EE failed to reach the legal threshold of 50pc. BT has offered staff an average pay rise of 5pc. Some of its lowest paid workers have been offered an increase of 8pc. Dave Ward, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), said that BT must table a “significantly improved” offer by next week or strike dates will be set. He said: “Our members were never going to accept this imposition. BT Group thought they could get away with bullying treatment – they were wrong.” A spokesman for BT said: “BT Group awarded its highest pay rise for frontline colleagues in more than 20 years. “At the same … [Read more...] about BT workers to strike for first time since Thatcher privatisation
Rishi Sunak’s ‘tax cut’ leaves millions paying more
Millions of people will pay more tax on income this year, despite Chancellor Rishi Sunak lauding Wednesday’s increase to the National Insurance threshold as an effective “tax cut”. On July 6, the NI threshold will rise from £9,880 to £12,570, meaning 30 million people will pay less tax, while around 2.2 million will be taken out of paying NI entirely. However, people earning £50,000 or more will still pay more in NI contributions this year than in the 2021-22 tax year. Sean McCann, Chartered Financial Planner at NFU Mutual, said the increase to NI contributions will affect the “squeezed middle” who already have to contend with frozen income tax thresholds and the withdrawal of child benefit. Because of the Chancellor’s decision to keep tax thresholds frozen until 2026, workers earning £30,000 will fork out an extra £1,816 in income tax and NI over the next five years, investment platform Interactive Investor has calculated. The picture is even less rosy for … [Read more...] about Rishi Sunak’s ‘tax cut’ leaves millions paying more
Wage power lies in the hands of workers, but maybe not for much longer
The power is in the hands of workers as employers compete on pay to attract staff, according to Trade Me. Trade Me Jobs sales director, Matt Tolich, said an analysis of more than 77,000 vacancies listed on the site found salaries boomed across New Zealand in the three months to June 30. “Nationwide, the average salary increased by 2% year-on-year, or $1068, to reach $66,016, while a number of regions around the country saw wages hit new records,” he said. Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū/Whanganui, Marlborough, Nelson/Tasman, Otago, Southland and Waikato regions all recorded their highest average salary in the second quarter. READ MORE: It's a good time to look for a new job, Trade Me data shows NZ jobseekers' 'remarkable' run set to continue with borders shut; Trade Me What will be 2022's highest paid jobs? Tolich put the salary increases down to the rising cost of living, and a competitive market. “The increasing cost of living … [Read more...] about Wage power lies in the hands of workers, but maybe not for much longer
Don’t Pay UK: The campaign calling for people to stop paying their energy bills
Would you consider committing to not paying your energy bill? A UK campaign is calling for 1million households to pledge that they will stop paying energy bills from October 1, in protest against price increases amid the cost of living crisis. The group, run by several anonymous activists, launched its Don’t Pay UK campaign in mid-June and, within a week, has already accrued over 4,000 people who have signed up to support the initiative. A non-payment campaign is when people collectively commit to not paying a bill or charge. The group claim to be inspired by the resistance to the Poll Tax and associated protests that helped bring down Margaret Thatcher’s government when 17 million people refused to pay the poll tax, known as the ‘Community Charge’ in 1990. In the end, it became impossible for the Thatcher government to successfully implement the policy. The premise In the face of the living crisis and the highest inflation in years, the Don’t Pay campaign … [Read more...] about Don’t Pay UK: The campaign calling for people to stop paying their energy bills
Millions revealed to be paying higher taxes as pressure mounts on Sunak
Russian economy is ‘going to suffer a lot’ says Josep Borrell Get pensions news and advice plus latest money alerts for FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Chancellor of the Exchequer froze personal allowance – the amount a worker can earn before paying income tax – as part of sweeping tax freezes in 2021, as the Treasury scrambled to get ahead of the looming cost of living crisis . The freeze, due to last until 2026, is adding further woes to Britons slammed by the cost of living crisis, as the number of people paying 40 or 45 percent income tax has risen from 4.25 million to more than 6.1 million in two years. Related articles Blow for Boris as CPI data reveals UK worst off in G7 Eurozone … [Read more...] about Millions revealed to be paying higher taxes as pressure mounts on Sunak
More NHS spending must not be swallowed up by pay increases without improved services
The first results from the 2021 census indicate that the population of the UK is now around 67 million. It has grown slightly more slowly over the past 10 years than in the previous decade but the proportion of older people has increased at a faster pace. These figures are close to the projections made by the Office for National Statistics so come as no great surprise and yet they are startling nonetheless. Not that long ago the population was expected to decline because the birth rate was below replacement levels. But people living longer, combined with high levels of immigration, have countered that trend. The consequences have been profound on the provision of public services like health care, housing, transport and education. It has not been possible to maintain the spending needed for such a large population. With the economy feeling the chill winds of an approaching recession and elevated inflation, groups of workers are agitating for higher pay from funds that simply no … [Read more...] about More NHS spending must not be swallowed up by pay increases without improved services
Worker who was accidentally paid 300 times his salary takes the money and runs
What would you do if you checked your bank account and found you had mistakenly been paid 300 times your normal salary? Well, one employee who discovered he had been paid nearly £150,000 for a month’s work instead of the usual £450 decided to duck and run. The unnamed staff member at Consorcio Industrial de Alimentos in Chile did initially raise the eye-watering overpayment for May with his manager who then flagged it to HR. He agreed to return the cash and promised to go to the bank the following day. But instead of giving it back, the man withdrew it and hasn’t been seen since. His employer Consorcio tried to make contact with the man over the next three days but to no avail, according to local media outlet Diario Financiero. They later received contact from the unnamed man’s lawyers who informed Consorcio that the man had resigned from his position with the company. After no sign of contact, bosses at the company decided to file a complaint with law officials … [Read more...] about Worker who was accidentally paid 300 times his salary takes the money and runs