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Rising water bills condemned

19 December 2024

Water bills will rise by more than one-third over the next five years, much of it in 2025. The regulator, Ofwat, previously said that that the price rises would far less. Unions and campaign groups have condemned the move.

Britain up for grabs

19 December 2024

The number of British companies sold to foreign investors continues to rise, up sharply on last year. This is not “investment” but amounts to selling British industry on the cheap.

Nationalisation…or not

18 December 2024

The government proposes to return most passenger rail services to public ownership. This will not necessarily improve services. Key areas are left out, so the industry will remain fragmented.

Pay agreement at Rolls-Royce

18 December 2024

Rolls-Royce aerospace workers have eventually settled a multi-year pay agreement after prolonged negotiations. The industry has often led the way on pay levels, but that may change with the employers exploiting fragmentation and outsourcing.

Pay review sparks outrage

17 December 2024

The government has announced a public sector pay rise of 2.8 per cent for 2025. Unions have denounced this as a cut in real pay. They are gearing up for a fight on pay again.

More delay to nuclear power for Britain

16 November 2024

The government is delaying the use of small modular nuclear reactors in Britain. And it is not committed to support Rolls-Royce as a provider, although it is a world leader in the technology.

Post Office closures

14 November 2024

The Post Office has announced plans for job losses and closures in the wake of the Horizon scandal. The Communication Workers Union has called for a halt, and will fight the job losses if the plan goes ahead.

Cuts in arts education

23 October 2024

Arts education provision across Britain is suffering from continuing cuts including instrumental music, drama and visual arts. Workers in arts and education are trying to build campaigns to counter this decline.

Pay rises on the railways

22 October 2024

Rail workers in most train operating companies have voted to accept the national pay deal. This ends over two years of intermittent strikes and other industrial action.

Action over pay on the Tube

21 October 2024

Transport unions Aslef and RMT are planning strikes over pay for their members on London Underground. In separate disputes both will be taking action in early November.

The boiler tax is back

21 October 2024

The new government wants to revive a policy of its predecessor to increase heat pump take up by taxing gas boilers. Its enthusiasm for net zero makes it blind to the reason why the idea was dropped.

No to fire and rehire

21 October 2024

Food manufacturer Oscar Mayer wants to fire and rehire workers at its Wrexham factory to reduce wages. The workers began a 4-week strike in September, extended when the firm refused to negotiate.

Rally against fuel payment cuts

11 October 2024

Pensioners held rallies in London and Belfast on Monday 7 October for the restoration of the winter fuel payment. As well as the direct financial effect those in fuel poverty will suffer worse health, increasing demand on the NHS

No mine here: threat to industry

11 October 2024

The assault on British industry in the name of the environment and net zero continues. The latest step is halting the development of a coal mine in Cumbria, aided by the courts and the new government.

Electricity imports at record high

11 October 2024

Electricity imports from continental Europe have hit a record high. Britain increasingly depends on undersea cables, with risks to both continuity of supply and prices.

Opera musicians fight cuts in Wales [updated]

26 August 2024

Faced with cuts that threaten their future and that of their company, musicians in the Welsh National Opera have voted overwhelmingly for potential strike action. They are facing cuts that threaten their future and that of their company.

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