Investment in sheet metal plant in Shropshire
21 October 2023
The Swiss-owned engineering company Bruderer, a manufacturer of high-speed presses, has announced investment in a new UK headquarters in Telford, Shropshire.
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News
A&E waiting times in Wales figures miss thousands of hours
20 October 2023
An FOI request from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine has revealed the true extent of waiting times in Welsh Accident and Emergency departments.
Chips are essential
20 October 2023
Semiconductor chip technology is essential to modern industrial production, and a British firm's designs lead the world, but processors are becoming pawns in a US-China trade war.
End privatisation says RMT as Arriva is sold to private equity
19 October 2023
RMT denounces sale of Arriva bus and train operations by the German state railway to US private equity.
HS2 sabotage hits train manufacture
2 October 2023
The government is planning further cuts to the HS2 rail project. This sabotage puts engineering jobs at risk as well as undermining the transport benefits.
Blow to renewable energy policy
28 September 2023
The government’s approach to future energy supply depends heavily on wind power, dedicated as it is to net zero aims. But it’s as much off course with wind as it is with nuclear energy.
Campaign for the future of steel
28 September 2023
Unite has launched a campaign to highlight the decline in Britain’s steel industry, with a plan for its future, including the demand that public contracts are obliged to use British steel.
Steel jobs and industry threatened by Tata Steel deal
28 September 2023
The government claims it has rescued Tata Steel, but the deal threatens the existence of Port Talbot, Britain’s largest steel works. Thousands of skilled jobs are at risk.
Net zero – wider discussion needed
25 September 2023
Rishi Sunak has postponed the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles and gas boilers. This is welcome but only a first step in challenging net zero orthodoxy.
Horizon Europe – hidden strings revealed
24 September 2023
Details of the agreement signing up Britain to the EU’s Horizon Europe research programme show that it is a dodgy deal.
Doctors continue pay strike
20 September 2023
Junior doctors struck from 20 to 22 September, with more strikes planned for 2 to 4 October, and a national rally outside the Conservative party conference in Manchester on 3 October. Hospital consultants will also strike on 20 September and on the October dates.
Birmingham – political bankruptcy in council provision
20 September 2023
Birmingham City Council announced that it could not meet its financial liabilities. Essentially it is bankrupt, threatening both jobs and services. These are structural problems, shared by other councils.
Libya – chaos and tragedy
19 September 2023
The chaotic situation in Libya has contributed to the tragically huge death toll from recent floods. This has its origins in the 2011 NATO-led military intervention.
Youth services are out of service
12 September 2023
Youth clubs are under threat – to an even greater extent than many other services. This year’s Mercury Prize provided a reminder of their value.
Research – Horizon giveaway
9 September 2023
A long-delayed deal with the EU to allow British scientists to take part in the Horizon research programme is weighted against Britain’s interests.
Keep US nuclear bombs out of Britain!
8 September 2023
There have been no US nuclear bombs in Britain since 2008, but there’s a possibility they will return. The bombs were removed from Lakenheath, the US air base in Suffolk, after a persistent and concerted campaign of action against their presence here.
Ticket office fight moves to next phase
1 September 2023
Rail workers are stepping up the fight to save ticket offices after the end of the sham consultation at the end of August.
Universities: Strikes to resume [print version]
The University and College Union (UCU) is to take more strike action before the end of September unless the employers agree to return to negotiations.
Ticket office fight continues
Protests have been taking place across Britain against plans to shut our railway ticket offices. The action is part of the RMT union’s continuing campaign “Save Ticket Offices”.
Wales: Spending to be slashed
Spending on public services in Wales will be cut to deal with a £900 million gap in its £20 billion budget.
Mixed progress for doctors
Junior doctors in Scotland have voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay offer. In a ballot nearly 82 per cent voted for the deal on a 71 per cent turn-out.
Sewage swamps triathlon
After a recent triathlon in Sunderland, 88 people have now reported suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting. The swimming leg of the event took place in the sea off Roker beach.
Plastics: Polluters exposed
Surfers Against Sewage, a citizen science initiative, has named Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Pepsico as Britain’s biggest plastic polluters.
Students: Universities look abroad
The Russell Group of universities is now offering more places on courses to international students than to British students – and bringing in more income as a result.
University strikes resume
24 August 2023
University academic staff will resume strike action in their pay and conditions disputes before the end of September unless employers agree to return to negotiations.
Teachers’ resounding victory
21 August 2023
The conclusion of the current teachers’ pay dispute has seen a resounding victory for schools in England and the unions involved, and has secured their biggest single pay rise in 30 years.
Bristol rail success
21 August 2023
Sustained campaigning has revived a Bristol rail line. The first of several new stations opened in July.
Packaging workers fight for pay and conditions
21 August 2023
Doncaster packaging workers began a 4-week strike on 14 August. They have rejected the employer's 8 per cent offer, tied to longer hours and worse conditions.
Stubborn inflation
21 August 2023
The rise in the consumer prices index in the year to July was a little lower than June – but prices are still rising faster than they have done for years.
Campaign to keep ticket offices open
20 July 2023
Train operating companies are running a short consultation on plans to close railway ticket offices. Rail workers are campaigning in opposition.