News reports located on this page = 3.
Night workers in the North West deserve better pay and conditions
AS the clocks went back to mark the beginning of winter, the TUC is calling for better pay and conditions for night workers; including the 231,000 key workers who regularly work nights in the North West. New analysis published by the Union body reveals that 1 in 3 (35%) night workers in the UK earn less than ₤10 an hour. This is despite the heightened health risks that come with night work and the disruption it causes to workers' lives. The analysis also shows that key workers (231,000) account for more than half of the North West's 424,000 night workers. The study found that Key workers are twice as likely to work overnight than other workers. It also highlighted that many are low paid and insecure.
The TUC says that many key workers who keep vital services going overnight are undervalued and often employed on low pay and insecure contracts. Care workers are more likely to work night shifts than other profession. But many earn less than ₤10 an hour and are on zero hours contracts. The union body says the Government must use its long awaited employment bill to:- "level up" conditions for workers in this sector starting with banning zero hours contracts.
The study also has highlighted the
health impact of night work as well as being bad for family life, the health
risks of regular night work include cardiovascular disease, diabetes and
depression. The TUC is calling for a number of measures to protect and
compensate night workers. These include:-
►
Pay
to properly reflect the likely additional costs of childcare and inconvenience
that night shifts can entail.
►
New
legislation to ensure that workers always have sufficient notice of their shift
patterns so they can make arrangements well in advance.
►
Compensation
for shift changes at short notice.
TUC Regional Secretary Lynn Collins said:- "Working through the night is tough; especially in the middle of a global pandemic. We all owe night workers in our Region a huge debt for keeping services running while we are asleep. It is not right that so many of those who work overnight; especially in key sectors like care; who are on low pay and insecure contracts. The Government must ensure that all night workers are treated with dignity at work. That means levelling up working conditions and pay and ensuring people are given proper notice of their shifts. And it means honouring the promise to increase the minimum wage that would benefit over 2 million key workers."
Royal Albert Dock Liverpool is now twinkling the nights away
AS the nights become longer and
the clocks turn back on Sunday, 25 October 2020, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
become 1 of the City's most scenic evening locations, as each of its 86 iconic
columns are illuminated with over 1 million twinkling lights, lighting up the
whole of the inner quay.
With many of the Dock's shops, restaurants and cultural attractions open for
business, including:- the Premier Inn for those wanting to extend their visit,
the beautifully lit and covered colonnades make it the ideal location for
roaming around the Grade I listed setting, as visitors take their pick of things
to do, shops to explore and restaurants to eat at.
Foodies are spoilt for choice with a selection of cuisines covering all corners
of the globe, from freshly shucked oysters at the newly opened Lerpwl and Middle
Eastern inspired dishes, at City favourite Maray, to freshly baked sourdough
pizzas at Gusto and authentic Spanish flavours, at Lunyalita.
With appetites sated, browse the eclectic independent shops found nowhere else
in Liverpool. The Nest stocks a wide range of art and design gifts made by local
artists, including:- Halloween decorations and artwork, The Leather Satchel
Company offers beautiful hand crafted satchels and accessories with bespoke
designs available, and Lost Soles is renowned for its unique graphic prints and
hoodies within its menswear collection.
In addition to eating, drinking and shopping, the Dock offers a selection of
world-renowned cultural attractions to explore, including The Beatles Story,
Tate Liverpool and National Museums Liverpool, each with an ever-changing roster
of exhibitions and enhanced social distancing and safety measures.
Exhibition highlights include:- Tate Liverpool's Don McCullin show which
features images of conflict, famine and displacement around the world over his
60 year career, in addition to never before seen images of Liverpool. Whilst
over at Merseyside Maritime Museum the Life on Board gallery shares the moving
and fascinating stories of work and leisure at sea through a series of digital
projections and soundscapes.
Whether it's a walk around the Dock taking in the lights and history, or a
change of scenery and some fresh air, Liverpool and the City Region can continue
to support their favourite independent restaurant, or even start early with
Christmas shopping, with on site car parking also available.
LGA statement on Covid19 business grant schemes
RESPONDING to the Chancellor's announcement of a new business grant scheme to be distributed by Councils, Cllr Richard Watts, Chair of the Local Government Association's Resources Board, said:- "It is Councils who are leading local efforts to support communities and businesses through this crisis. This includes distributing more than ₤11 billion to 880,000 small businesses through the previous grant scheme earlier this year. This has been a vital lifeline to businesses struggling and worried about the future, so it is good that Government has announced this new scheme. Councils stand ready to work again to distribute this new funding. It is good that they will have flexibility to ensure as many businesses can benefit as possible."
