28/08/2012

Other News In Brief

Green Light For £9.2m Harbour Pier Plan

An ambitious £9.2 million pier plan for Stromness on Orkney has been given the green light after Scottish Government funding was announced by the Deputy First Minister as she arrived on Orkney for the latest Summer Cabinet.

The Copland's Dock development will see construction of a new 100-metre pier and associated access road in Stromness, where Nicola Sturgeon is today hosting an industry event to mark the start of the grand challenge phase of the £10 million Saltire Prize competition for wave and tidal energy technology.

Together with developments at Lyness (island of Hoy) and Hatston (near Kirkwall), the Copland’s Dock pier forms part of Orkney Islands Council’s Three Ports Strategy to invest in major infrastructure projects that provide the marine renewables industry with upgraded and new-build pier and quayside facilities at key locations.

Unite Calls Industrial Action At Capita ITS

Dates Announced For Capita ITS Industrial Action

Unite the union has announced the start date for industrial action at four Capita ITS sites.

Unite members working in Reading, Craigforth, Birmingham and Bournemouth will be taking continuous action from 4 September. The dispute centres on Capita’s plans to offshore work to India and a wider compulsory redundancy programme.

David Fleming, Unite national officer, said: "Unite has made every attempt to find a negotiated settlement with Capita, but we have been frustrated by the response from management.

"As talks stalled last week, Unite now has no option but to announce a ban on overtime and on-call working as well as a refusal to undertake any work associated with the offshoring programme from Tuesday 4 September.

"Capita management have underestimated our members’ strength of feeling who are determined to fight for their job security. The union will stand alongside them. Despite some initial progress, Capita is insisting that compulsory redundancies remain an option and will not rule out any further offshoring in future."

(CD)

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