Vauxhall Agrees Pay Deal

Workers at the Vauxhall car plant in Ellesmere Port have voted to accept a deal agreed between unions and the proposed new owner, Magna. Unite leaders agreed to a two-year pay freeze and other cost-savings in return for having no compulsory redundancies. About 2,100 workers attended the vote during a mass meeting at the factory earlier.

Highways Agency Costs Rise

Since the introduction of a new type of maintenance contract in 2001 by the Highways Agency, there have been some improvements in the quality and delivery to budget of maintenance on England's motorways and trunk roads. However, according to a report by the National Audit Office (NAO), costs have risen, with those for routine maintenance increasing since 2002-03 by 11% above inflation. Expenditure on planned maintenance has risen overall by 5.5% above inflation.

Royal Mail 'Cynical'

The head of the postal workers' union has accused Royal Mail of having a "cynical" plan to have it sidelined in its protracted dispute over jobs and pay which has resulted in a planned national strike. Billy Hayes of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), also said he hoped Lord Mandelson was not seeking "revenge" for his failure as Business Secretary to part-privatise the company. The emergence of an internal document suggested Royal Mail bosses had full government support for implementing modernisation plans with or without the agreement of the CWU. The document came to light after the CWU announced two 24-hour nationwide strikes next week. However, Royal Mail strongly denied that senior managers had seen the document and said it had no plans to "derecognise" the union.

Teen Carpenter Is Tops

Carpentry apprentice Dalton Hallal from Blacon, Chester, has been named by Lovell as the company's North West Personal Achiever of the Year. The 19-year-old is part of the Lovell team building the Chester Point housing development in Blacon for Chester & District Housing Trust. Lovell recently finished building the first phase of the new Chester Point housing which saw the completion of more than 50 homes. The overall development will create 156 homes for sale, shared ownership and for rent at Blacon.

Landlords Join Council Partnership

Renfrewshire Council is encouraging private landlords to join a new partnership which aims to improve standards of privately rented accommodation in Renfrewshire. The successful series of Private Landlord Forums continues on Wednesday 21 October with a meeting to outline its partnership with Landlord Accreditation Scotland. The national body was set up with the help of the Scottish government, to provide more information and local training opportunities for landlords letting property in Renfrewshire. Landlords attending the forum can find out more about the partnership and how signing up can benefit them.

(BMcC/KMcA)