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STORIES ROAD TRANSPORT Strike off as BP ‘does the right thing’
Unite tanker drivers at Scotland’s only oil refinery in Grangemouth called off strike action in February after BP did ‘the right thing’ and settled over cuts to pay and pensions.
Following fresh talks the oil giant agreed to recompense tanker drivers – who stood to lose up to £16,000 a year on their pension value and £1,400 a
ENERGY
Profits should cut energy bills
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey slammed recent British Gas profits as ‘staggering’.
Commenting on British Gas’ owner Centrica making £50 per UK household, he said, “These profits will anger a growing number of families who are struggling to pay the bills. The price increases in November caused hardship for customers while British Gas bosses boosted their profits and their own bonuses in the process.
“We could have warm homes and reduce our fuel bills if companies, including British Gas, used more of their profits to insulate homes to reduce the cost of energy bills. It’s time for the government to give the regulator more power ensure energy companies behave fairly.”
8 uniteWORKS March/April 2013
A recent Unite poll of over 4,000 members said heating bills were their biggest worry.
year on their basic earnings – because of an imminent aviation contract transfer to DHL.
The workers, who will transfer shortly from BP to DHL, will receive the full value of the BP share-match scheme as an indefinite monthly payment. Deals have also been agreed to cover losses to pensions as a result of the contract transfer.
Unite’s Tony Trench said, “This is a magnificent result for our members who were resolute in their pursuit of pay and pension justice from BP. We’ve faced down the fourth biggest company in the world over the basic principle of fairness. It has done the right thing. Unite will fight back against any attempts to cut our members’ hard fought terms and conditions.”
ECONOMY Manufacturing
news shock Unite warned figures out in March showing a shock contraction in manufacturing were more dire news for the UK economy and signalled further misery for ordinary families at the hands of government austerity.
The warning followed the Markit/CIPS purchasing mangers’ index (PMI) annonuncement, which showed manufacturers are laying off at the fastest rate since late 2009.
The index for manufacturing fell to 47.9 in February and was the first reading below 50 – which indicates contraction – since November.
With output and new orders both falling in February, the figures rounded off a calamitous week for the government which saw Britain stripped of its AAA rating and George Osborne’s credibility in tatters.
Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke commented, “When will the penny drop? What we need is a proper state backed British investment bank as part of strategy that promotes jobs and growth.”
Mark Pinder /
reportdigital.co.uk
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