NHS union UNISON has announced today (Friday 12 August 2022) that it will officially ballot its 50,000 NHS members in Scotland over pay. The ballot will open on 3 October.
New analysis published by the TUC today (Friday 12 August 2022) shows that energy bills are now expected to cost more than two months of average take-home pay in 2023 - unless the government intervenes. Average take-home pay (after tax) will be £2,054 per month in 2023 based on Bank of England forecasts, so at £4,108, two months' pay will be less than the £4,200 predicted cost of energy bills per household in 2023.
Families are facing a crisis this winter Millions of families face a crisis this winter, as energy and other bills soar. TUC analysis shows that if the energy price cap rises to its forecast level of £4266 a year 1 that will take up two months' worth of average wages.
Responding this afternoon (Friday 12 August) to an updated offer tabled by COSLA chiefs, involving proposals equivalent to a 3.5 per cent increase for local government pay GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services Keir Greenaway said, "This is a dire response to the cost-of-living crisis facing our members. It will almost certainly lock-in more strikes but let's also be clear that many frontline workers will fall into working poverty this winter unless this pay offer is significantly increased.
A pilot initiative to increase diversity of land ownership in a planned and managed way has attracted strong interest from tenant farmers. Crown Estate Scotland offered farmers on secure tenancies across two pilot areas - on the Applegirth Estate in Dumfries & Galloway, and the area around Auchindoun in Moray - the opportunity to buy the holdings which they currently lease.
16 per cent of Brits admit they don't recycle. 58 per cent of consumers don't realise they'll be affected.
Learner drivers are being urged to check they're ready to pass their driving test, as new statistics reveal pass rates have fallen since last year. The latest data released today (11 August 2022) by the Department for Transport reveals the car driving test pass rate for January to March 2022 was 47.1%.
Businesses will have access to a free online platform offering practical ways to boost mental health in the workplace from today (Thursday 11 August). Face-to-face training opportunities, clear guidance on the legal duties of businesses, and specialist third-party contacts will be in one place for the first time - making it easier than ever for employers to access the means of creating a culture of support and wellbeing at work.
Crown Estate Scotland - the body which manages seabed leasing for offshore renewables - has today, 10 August, opened the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) offshore wind leasing process. A two-week registration window opens today, followed later this month by the opening of the application window.
Cost reduction estimate is equivalent to £15bn saving. Well decommissioning campaign approach gains traction New target will maintain industry focus on cost-efficiency The cost of decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure has been cut by 25% in the past five years, according to the latest estimates published today.
Official statistics released today (11 August 2022) by the Department for Transport reveal that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carried out 74% more lorry driving tests between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels. 11,197 more lorry driving tests were carried out between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022 compared to the same period in 2020.
As of 7th August 2022, there have been a total of 15,422 deaths registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate. In week 31 there were 57 deaths involving COVID-19 (34 fewer than the previous week).
Experts in underwater imaging technology are trialling the use of a first-of-its-kind system that could see 3D digital models used by Scottish seafood producers to map out and monitor complex marine environments and habitats. Led by Oban-based Tritonia Scientific, with support from the Lyell Centre at Heriot-Watt University, seafood producer Mowi, and the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), the company is testing the effectiveness of using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to create digital twins of the seabed.
Scottish Government Resilience Room convened. The First Minister has chaired the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (11 August 2022) to discuss urgent steps to mitigate the growing cost emergency which is affecting people and businesses.
The developer of a major new offshore windfarm has joined the Caithness Chamber of Commerce with an ambition to maximise the long-term economic benefits the project will bring to the north of Scotland. In January the West of Orkney Windfarm secured the rights to an area of seabed from the Crown Estate Scotland in the highly competitive ScotWind process, to bring forward a 2-gigawatt windfarm around 25km north of the Sutherland coast.
Space start-ups generated almost £9 million in investment and created 80 new jobs after taking part in a UK Space Agency-backed business support programme. pace start-ups generated almost £9 million in investment and created 80 new jobs after taking part in a UK Space Agency-backed business support programme.
Retail trade union Usdaw is this weekend campaigning at street stalls across the country calling for the Government to take action to tackle the Tory cost of living crisis. Usdaw has published statistics from their cost of living survey of over 5,500 retail staff, mainly low-paid key workers who deliver essential services which show that.
● Many major cities are recovering much slower than other UK outliers. ● Scottish towns and cities are showing strong year-on-year growth ● Spending on travel and increased tourism may be fuelling some high street recoveries.
£10 million allocated to speed up cancer services. Cancer patients are set for faster access to treatment as an additional £10 million has been allocated to help improve waiting times.
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (August 9th) sold 11 Prime Cattle. Prime Bullocks (5) averaged 252.9p per kg (-4.1p) and sold to 257.0p per kg and £1,637.50 gross.
