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WHAT HAPPENED ON 17th May 2006?
16th May 2006
NI politicians return to Stormont
Northern Ireland's politicians have taken their seats in the Stormont assembly for the first time since October 2002. There is no immediate prospect of a power-sharing executive being formed. However the government hopes recalling the politicians will help to pave the way towards a deal in the autumn by its deadline of 24 November. The 108 assembly members observed a minute's silence for Ballymena teenager Michael McIlveen who was murdered.
17th May 2006
Vauxhall confirms 900 job losses
Carmaker Vauxhall has confirmed 900 job cuts at its Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire warning the plant must further improve its productivity. The announcement was made after Vauxhall management & GM officials met union leaders at the factory. Derek Simpson the boss of Amicus said the decision was "another devastating blow to the car industry & UK manufacturing in general". The government said it would do all it could to help staff find new jobs.
17th May 2006
Action urged to boost rural homes
A big increase in subsidised housing to stop low-earners being priced out of rural areas in England is being called for by a government-backed group. A report by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission says at least 11 000 new homes a year must be built. It suggests a new tax on second homes and more restrictions on the right to buy council houses in rural areas. Without such action rural communities will be reduced to retirement towns & "dormitories" for the wealthy it adds.
16th May 2006
Union in Vauxhall contract threat
A union representing workers at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port car plant has said it will place its £8m car fleet order with a rival firm if jobs go. Amicus wants reassurances from parent company General Motors about the future of the Cheshire-based plant where 1 000 jobs are reportedly at risk. Amicus is threatening to hold contract talks with Japanese manufacturers. It may also encourage its one million members their families and members of other unions not to buy Vauxhall cars.
17th May 2006
Vauxhall confirms 900 job losses
Carmaker Vauxhall has confirmed 900 job cuts at its Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire warning the plant must further improve its productivity. The announcement was made after Vauxhall management & GM officials met union leaders at the factory. Derek Simpson the boss of Amicus said the decision was "another devastating blow to the car industry & UK manufacturing in general". The government said it would do all it could to help staff find new jobs.
17th May 2006
Vauxhall unions vow to fight cuts
Union members at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant have unanimously rejected the voluntary redundancy package put forward by its owner General Motors. It comes after Vauxhall announced 900 job cuts at the Cheshire factory. The Transport & General Workers Union and Amicus will also lobby against Peugeot's decision to close the Ryton factory Coventry and axe 2 300 jobs. Union leaders are also calling on members of the public to boycott Vauxhall cars.
16th May 2006
Seasonal clean-up bill snowballs
The cost of clearing & gritting roads in Aberdeen this winter soared to more than £2.3m it has been revealed. The total bill was £2 345 963 which was £350 000 higher than in the previous year. A report going to the city council's environment & infrastructure committee next week states that 28 952 hours of staff time were used. There were 18 320 tonnes of salt scattered on roads prompting calls for increased salt stocks.
17th May 2006
Vauxhall confirms 900 job losses
Carmaker Vauxhall has confirmed 900 job cuts at its Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire warning the plant must further improve its productivity. The announcement was made after Vauxhall management & GM officials met union leaders at the factory. Derek Simpson the boss of Amicus said the decision was "another devastating blow to the car industry & UK manufacturing in general". The government said it would do all it could to help staff find new jobs.
17th May 2006
Airbus A380 jet lands at Heathrow
The Airbus A380 the world's biggest passenger jet has landed at London's Heathrow Airport for the first time. Making its UK debut after a flight from Berlin the giant twin-deck plane had earlier flown over the two UK Airbus sites that designed & made its wings. Staff at the facilities in Broughton Flintshire and Filton near Bristol cheered as it passed low above them. The 555-seat aircraft & its crew are visiting Heathrow to test the airport's facilities before flying out on Friday.
16th May 2006
Hotel cleared over Spurs illness
The bug which affected Tottenham before their game at West Ham was not caused by food poisoning at their hotel the Health Protection Agency has ruled. The players ate at the London Marriott hotel in West India Quay before they lost 2-1 at Upton Park on 7 May. An investigation into the hotel's food preparation storage & cooking found it to be satisfactory. Tests on the players showed one had a form of gastroenteritis which may have spread to the other players affected.
17th May 2006
Vauxhall confirms 900 job losses
Carmaker Vauxhall has confirmed 900 job cuts at its Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire warning the plant must further improve its productivity. The announcement was made after Vauxhall management & GM officials met union leaders at the factory. Derek Simpson the boss of Amicus said the decision was "another devastating blow to the car industry & UK manufacturing in general". The government said it would do all it could to help staff find new jobs.
17th May 2006
Blair 'rattled' over immigration
Tory leader David Cameron has accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of being "rattled" over immigration foreign prisoners & human rights laws. In fierce Commons exchanges Mr Cameron also repeated his claim these issues showed the government's "paralysis". The PM acknowledged there was "far more" to do but said Mr Cameron had opposed many key security measures. Ministers are under fire after an immigration chief said he did not know how many illegal immigrants there were.
16th May 2006
Golf courses' plea over ramblers
The operators of Scotland's golf courses are asking Holyrood to change the right-of-way legislation to stop people wandering across the fairways. Since the 2003 Land Reform Act ramblers have rights of access across Scotland's courses. However the Scottish Golf Union said it wants the law changed to make people stick to recognised paths. The Scottish Parliament's cross-party group on golf is meeting club secretaries on Tuesday in Prestwick.
17th May 2006
Vauxhall confirms 900 job losses
Carmaker Vauxhall has confirmed 900 job cuts at its Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire warning the plant must further improve its productivity. The announcement was made after Vauxhall management & GM officials met union leaders at the factory. Derek Simpson the boss of Amicus said the decision was "another devastating blow to the car industry & UK manufacturing in general". The government said it would do all it could to help staff find new jobs.
17th May 2006
Counter-claims dog university row
Both sides of a bitter higher education pay dispute have put their cases to a select committee of MPs. Employers & the unions each accused the other of acting "irresponsibly" in the row which threatens to disrupt thousands of graduations this summer. Lecturers' unions the AUT & Natfhe have rejected a 12.6% offer over three years and are boycotting exam marking. A higher offer would mean job cuts say employers but the unions say there is enough money to support their claim.
