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."