Unite union boss warns disputes will continue if workers not paid properly August 23, 2022 Unite union chief Sharon Graham has warned employers there will be no end to the strikes that threaten to cripple the British economy. “I expect employers that have the ability to pay to do so and stop using inflation and the pandemic as a reason not to pay proper pay rises to workers,” Graham, who [...]
Nissan: 250 jobs are safe despite engine cylinder factory ceasing production August 23, 2022 A Nissan factory in Sunderland is to cease production in 2024 but the company says it does “not expect this to result in job losses”. The car-maker said its engine cylinder factory will close after Renault, its only customer, did not renew a contract to produce the cylinder heads. In a statement to Morning Wire, [...]
‘Business as usual’: Gatwick returns to black and scraps passenger cap August 23, 2022 Gatwick has returned to business as usual following a turbulent two years, plagued by Covid and, more recently, by this summer’s travel chaos. Chief executive Stewart Wingate told Morning Wire that the West Sussex airport recovered strongly following the UK Government’s decision to scrap all Covid travel rules, posting a profit after tax of £50.6m [...]
Elizabeth line: Direct services from Reading and Heathrow to central London will begin in November August 23, 2022 Businesses have welcomed the integration of Elizabeth line services from Heathrow, Reading and Shenfield from 6 November. “The upgraded services will be greatly welcomed by businesses across the Capital that rely on footfall more than ever before to help them navigate their recovery from Covid, cost of living pressures and rising inflation,” said Ruth Duston, [...]
Wood Group posts flat revenue but confident performance will improve in second half August 23, 2022 Engineering firm Wood has posted flat revenue after a decline in its projects and operations arms. In half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2022, the London-listed firm posted revenue of $2,561m, down 0.4 per cent on the $2,570m in the comparable period in 2021. Adjusted EBITDA fell 5.1 per cent to [...]
British Airways to cancel further flights up to the end of October August 22, 2022 British Airways has announced a further raft of flight cancellations between now and the end of October as the UK’s travel chaos continues. The airline has struggled with staff shortages and with airport Heathrow’s decision to cap passenger numbers until the end of October. A spokesperson for the airline said “the vast majority” of customers [...]
Eurostar boss steps down passing the baton to rail veteran Gwendoline Cazenave August 22, 2022 Gwendoline Cazenave will replace Jacques Damas as chief executive of Eurostar Group, as the French businessman steps down after two years at the rail operator’s helm. The railway veteran will officially take over on 1 October, having spent two decades working in the industry. A former executive at French state-owned rail company SNCF, Cazenave has [...]
UK supply chain under control despite strike, says port trade body August 22, 2022 Port trade body UK Major Ports Group said that, despite the ongoing eight-day strike at Felixstowe, the UK supply chain remains under control. Tim Morris, chief executive of UK Major Ports Group, told Morning Wire that the impact on end consumers “might be less and more spread out than some people might think” as supply [...]
Wizz Air CFO steps down as airliner pursues post-lockdown expansion August 22, 2022 Wizz Air’s chief financial officer has stepped down, as the European airline pursues a pandemic turnaround following a recent loss of €285m. Jourik Hooghe has decided to exit the role to seek “opportunities outside of the company” according to a statement today. However, he will be available during until the end of December during the [...]
Avanti West Coast woes give train privatisation a bad name August 21, 2022 It is tempting to place the blame for the rail chaos gripping the country firmly at the feet of Mick Lynch and his twitter-friendly pals at the top of the unions, and it is true that much of it does indeed lie there. But on one particular line the operator should take their fair share [...]