Intelligent Shipping in the UK, Germany and Benelux
Intelligent Shipping in the UK, Germany and Benelux
Read MoreTag: UK
Health workers strike over privatisation
Hundreds of health workers are today holding a 24 hour strike in a bitter row over privatisation – just as the controversy is set to be debated at Labour’s annual conference.
Workers at NHS Logistics, based at five distribution centres in England, walked out at 11pm last night for the second strike in a week in protest at a contract being awarded to German firm DHL.
Unison said the strike will lead to a shortage of some supplies being delivered to hospitals and GP surgeries across England.
The union has called on the Government to suspend the 10 year contract, due to come into force on October 1, and warned there were “growing concerns” about pay and conditions.
A separate dispute at DHL has blown up involving thousands of driver and other workers in a row over pay and jobs.
Read MoreDHL strike threat widens after jobs move
DHL, the German company which is set to take over a multibillion-pound part of the National Health Service, was facing a strike yesterday by up to 5,000 employees in Britain who allege that management is behaving like “Victorian mill owners”.
The parcels company was accused of planning to dismiss 3,000 permanent staff to replace them with 2,500 casual workers in a move that would mean DHL did not have to make national insurance payments.
While ministers havetried to assure NHS workers being switched to DHL that the company was a good employer, unions claimed yesterday it was involved in a “race to the bottom” in terms of employment standards.
News of the strike threat at DHL Express came before a second 24-hour stoppage, starting tonight, by members of the public service union Unison at NHS Logistics, who are protesting at the takeover by the German group. The walkout coincides with a debate on the health service at the Labour Party conference in Manchester.
Read MoreProduction Workflow Solutions Europe Consulting Service
Production Workflow Solutions Europe Consulting Service
Read MoreGBP2.2m mail sorting office opens
A brand new multi-million pound Royal Mail postal sorting office has opened in Suffolk.
The GBP2.2m centre on Skyliner Way in Bury St Edmunds brings together 140 postmen and women delivering more than 100,000 letters and parcels a day.
The old premises on St Andrew’s Street South, which had been home to the Royal Mail since the 1960s, will be redeveloped as part of a town project.
There will be no change to deliveries in the Bury St Edmunds area.
‘Great news’
Senior delivery manager Steve Glenn said: “This is actually purpose-built for our operation today.
“It’s great news for our people who deserve better and more modern facilities than we have had up to now in the new building.
“I can honestly say at this moment this is the best delivery office in the country.”
Staff moved from the old offices to the new ones over the weekend.
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