Sovini Trade Supplies partners with SYMPHONY Electric Vehicles to support the company's 0 emission deliveries

MERSEYSIDE Builders' Merchants Sovini Trade Supplies have partnered with SYMPHONY Electric Vehicles as part of their sustainable transport scheme following a successful bid to install Electric Charging Points at their Aintree depot. The 2 Charging Points are part of Merseytravel's latest Capital Grant scheme which is set to provide a boost to the infrastructure and accessibility of Electric Vehicles in the workplace. Merseytravel's Workplace Charge Point programme is aimed at increasing the number of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (EV) across Merseyside and the Liverpool City Region. The charging point was provided thanks to a grant from the Local Growth Fund. Local Growth Funding is awarded to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and invested through the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through its Strategic Investment Fund.

Northern Housing's 2018 Supplier of the Year, Sovini Trade Supplies, introduced Electric Vehicles to their fleet this year as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility pledge (CSR). The 0 carbon emission, eNV200 Nissan Van which was supplied by SYMPHONY Electric Vehicles supports the company's day to day operations transporting deliveries to the repairs and maintenance and construction industry. Sovini Trade Supplies is the 1st builders' merchants in the Liverpool City Region to introduce 0 emission deliveries which is part of the company's sustainable transport programme. The introduction of Electric Vehicles to the fleet will note a significant cost savings to the company alongside the added benefits to the environment. The 100% Electric Vehicles are road tax exempt and cost just ₤2.00per 100 miles to run.

Alan Evans, Regional Operations Manager at Sovini Trade Supplies, said:- "Sovini Trade Supplies is committed to implementing pioneering new methods to ensure our Corporate Social Responsibility is upheld. This year we decided to invest in Electric Vehicles which has not only provided benefits to the environment, but also offers financial savings too. Following a successful bid to Merseytravel we are delighted to have worked in partnership with SYMPHONY Electric Vehicles to install a Charging Point at our Aintree store. We are working to introduce more Electric Vehicles to our growing fleet in 2019."

John Robinson, Director of SYMPHONY Electric Vehicles, added:- "We are delighted to support Sovini Trade Supplies in their sustainable transport restructure, adding 0 carbon emission vehicles to their growing fleet and installing Charging Points at their depot. More and more fleets are converting to 100% Electric Vehicles, this will help our overall ambition in making Liverpool 1 of the lowest carbon Cities in Europe."

The charging point which is located at Sovini Trade Supplies, Aintree Racecourse Retail and Business Park, is now available for exclusive use to the company's staff and visitors. Sovini Trade Supplies are set to roll out the charging point scheme at their Ellesmere Port and Eccles stores.

For more information on Sovini Trade Supplies visit:- SoviniTradeSupplies.Co.UK.

241 jobs to go at Ellesmere Port Vauxhall

ON 24 November 2018, car giant Vauxhall on Merseyside employs workers from across a wide North West Region spanning North Wales to Lancashire, but it faces falling sales and relatively high manufacturing costs at the Ellesmere Port plant, which builds the Astra.

Vauxhall, which was taken over by the French company PSA Group in 2017, and has already suffered from 3 previous rounds of job cuts in recent years, but it has now been announced that another 241 job losses at the company's Ellesmere Port. The company said it aimed to achieve the cuts in through voluntary redundancies, adding that the decision was not Brexit related. The company has now entered into a 45 day consultation with Trade Unions, over its restructuring plans.

Unite Officer, Mick Chalmers has told the media that:- "Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port workers have made huge sacrifices and have worked extremely hard to ensure the carmaker recently returned to profit, for the 1st time in 2 decades. Further job losses at the plant will come as a sickening blow for them and their families, especially with the run up to Christmas. This move will further heighten the anger over the uncertainty surrounding the future of the plant"

Vauxhall has commented that it's plan is:- "Our 2019 plan encompasses site compression, implementation of new technologies and other transformation activities which will impact on headcount requirements. This restructuring is critical to ensuring that the Ellesmere Port plant continues to develop its competitiveness during this difficult time within the industry. We remain committed to achieve this essential restructuring without having to utilise compulsory redundancies."

Vauxhall has also added that they have outlined the possibility for some employees to transfer their employment to its manufacturing plant, located in Luton, Bedfordshire. They also added that in this case the company would provide relocation support to employees.

John Cooper from Unite said has also said that all 1,100 employees at the site are Union members and that every 1 had gone on strike.

This is a massive blow for the Region, as Cammell Laird Shipyard, in Birkenhead, starts to lose 40% of its highly skilled workforce as well. Do these cuts affect you or someone you know? Please email us with your views and thoughts on this issue to:- News24@MerseyReporter.Com.

Care at Night, Pay Us Right!

SUPPORT workers, service users' families and Councillors were refused the opportunity to submit a petition signed by over 13,000 people at the Alternative Futures Group (AFG) Headquarters, in Prescot, on Wednesday, 21 November 2018. The petition calls for AFG not to go through with their controversial plan to remove top up payments for sleep in shifts. The planned cut will affect thousands of staff across the North West and cost some as much as ₤90 a week, or ₤4500 a year. AFG have announced that they will stop making the payments in January despite there being no cut in the funding that they are receiving from local Councils.

The proposal has met widespread opposition from staff, service users' families and the wider public. A small delegation had hoped to be able to submit the petition to AFG's trustees today, but AFG turned them away and would not accept the petition. The petition has been created by UNISON, the support workers' union. Local Councillors from Knowsley were part of the delegation, and a message of support was received from Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram. Campaigners are due to meet with Liverpool City mayor Joe Anderson later this week.

UNISON North West Regional Organiser Tim Ellis said:- "There is tremendous opposition to AFG's plan to cut support workers' incomes; not just from the workers affected, but from the service users' friends and families too. The public response to the petition has been phenomenal. We're disappointed that AFG have refused to accept the petition or speak to staff and service users' families about their concerns. They had an opportunity to engage with people, but instead chose to put their heads in the sand and try to ignore them. Pressure for AFG to change course is only going to grow, and there is increasing interest and concern in this issue from leading local politicians. AFG have not had their funding cut by Council commissioners and they are no worse off than they expected to be. They are acting hastily and opportunistically in attacking support workers' pay. The cuts will cause considerable hardship for support workers and some will have to consider leaving their role in care. AFG claim to be fully aware of the financial consequences for their staff. If they truly are, they should stop this unnecessary cut to low-paid workers' living standards."

Louise, a support worker from Rochdale said:- "I do eight sleeps a month and usually receive about ₤150 in top up. I'm really, really angry about the plans to remove it. Without this money, my car insurance won't get paid. We will end up dipping into savings. We won't be able to do decorating or go on holiday. We usually catch up on bills in the first month after Christmas, after buying all the presents, so this will have a big knock on effect. I love my service users and the house I work in. I don't want to have to look elsewhere for work."

Sam, a support worker from Lancaster said:- "I do 3 sleeps a week which gives me ₤350 to ₤400 a month, so we are talking thousands a year I am set to lose. The money will be gone but I will still have the bills to pay. I've no idea what I will do. It will come down to me looking for work elsewhere. I've always worked in care and I love the people I work with. But I hardly see my husband as it is because I work so many hours. I miss out on that family time with the children and grandchildren"

Ryan, a support worker from Merseyside said:- "I do 2 or 3 sleeps a week so stand to lose ₤240 to ₤360 a month. That means having to prioritise which bills are getting paid and which I can't afford. I split everything 50/50 with my partner but losing top ups might mean that my partner will have to pay more, which will put a strain on our relationship and I will feel guilty about it. But at least I've got someone to fall back on. Many of my colleagues are single parents and it's them I worry about. People have been talking about leaving, going to other jobs that pay more than minimum wage. Many will be taking on more shifts over Christmas and losing that family time, just to prepare for the loss of money when top ups are removed in January. The irony is that part of our jobs is helping service users to manage their own money, helping them to pay bills and budget their shopping. Yet we will be struggling to do this ourselves!"

News reports located on this page = 3.

Sovini Trade Supplies partners with SYMPHONY Electric Vehicles to support the company's 0 emission deliveries

241 jobs to go at Ellesmere Port Vauxhall

Care at Night, Pay Us Right!