London bus workers are preparing to announce strike dates this week as they step up their dispute over a £500 Olympic bonus.
Thousands of bus workers at the Unite trade union have voted by a majority of more than 90% for industrial action and have warned that walkouts could take place during the Games. Unite also accused the capital's transport authority of "hypocrisy" after claiming that seven Transport for London bosses could share a £560,000 bonus payment if performance targets including a trouble-free Olympics are met.
Peter Kavanagh, Unite's regional secretary for London, said: "This is barefaced hypocrisy of the highest order. TfL chiefs on six-figure salaries are in line to earn Olympic bonuses worth 160 times more than bus workers are asking for."
TfL said the claims were "spurious and inaccurate" because the bonus scheme, which equates to a payment of £80,000 for each senior director, is not based solely on performance over the Olympics and is part of the directors' contracts.
"It is disappointing that Unite continues to push for strike action, attempting to exploit the Games spirit and add a further multimillion-pound burden to the hard-pressed fare and taxpayers of London," said Leon Daniels, TfL's director of surface transport.
Under the terms of the 1992 Trade Union Act, Unite is unable to announce strike dates during the Olympics immediately. It must take industrial action within 28 days of the strike ballot being announced, which sets a deadline of the first week of July. If drivers take industrial action before that point, they are then allowed to stretch their strike mandate into the Games between 27 July and 12 August.
Unite's strike threat is further complicated by the fact that bus operators claim they are unable to pay a bonus. The 21 bus companies that operate in London are paid a set fee by TfL and are adamant that any extra staff payment must be underwritten by the mayor's transport authority. TfL's Daniels again indicated that the organisation will not underwrite a deal. "As has always been clear, bus drivers are employed by private companies and their pay and conditions are a matter for those private companies," he said.
TfL said a £500 bonus payment equated to a "bill of £12m for no additional work".
However, Unite argues that the 20,000 bus workers it represents are entitled to a bonus after payments of £850 were secured for tube staff. Staff at Network Rail, the DLR, the London Overground line and Virgin Trains have all agreed bonuses of between £500 and £900 each.
Unite has given bus operators until the start of this week to respond to its demand. If there is no response, it is preparing to announce strike dates by the middle of the week. The conciliation service, Acas, has not been involved so far.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
I'm ready for my close up! TOWIE new girl Danni Park-Dempsey goes from extra to leading lady in short white skirt on night out - Daily Mail
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The Only Way Is Essex has proved to be very lucrative for all those who have bagged starring roles in the popular ITV show.
Having joined the cast towards the end of series five Danni Park-Dempsey didn't really get a chance to make an impact with viewers.
So now that the cast are having some downtime new girl Danni stepped out last night in Essex in an outfit that would have made anyone think she has a leading role in the show.
New girl in town: TOWIE's Danni Park-Dempsey (centre) shows off her toned legs as she heads to Funky Mojoe
The bubbly Essex girl stunned in a very short flowing white chiffon skirt which showed off her toned legs as she headed to Funky Mojoe in South Woodford.
She teamed the skirt with a beige shirt which was unbuttoned to ensure her ample cleavage was on display as she hit up TOWIE's hotspot.
Danni completed her look with a pair of strapped metallic skyscraper heels and she accessorised with a silver crucifix necklace and several beaded bracelets.
Popular girl: The Essex beauty received a kiss from one of her friends as they made their way to the club
Excited to hit the town with her girl pals, earlier in the day the reality TV star took to her Twitter page to update her followers.
She tweeted, 'Can't wait for @FUNKYMOJOE tonight with all my girls x'
Enjoying the evening and starting to feel the effects of the alcohol, she tweeted, 'Wow I let my hair down for one night and one night only #tipsy #love x'
Showing off her assets: The 21-year-old tweeted that she had allowed herself to let her hair down for once
Last night before the 21-year-old retired to her bed she posted one more tweet which read, 'Night had the best night x'
Danni's appearance last night differed in comparison to the few times she received cameos in the Bafta award-winning show where she seemed to be plain Jane.
In the last episode of TOWIE Danni looked dressed down as she sat comforting Lucy Mecklenburgh alongside her BFF Lydia Bright when she donned a navy blue play suit.
In the shadow: Danni showed off a more demure side to her wardrobe when she featured in TOWIE
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
London Rippers’ winning streak snapped - Metronews.ca
The London Rippers had their seven-game winning streak snapped, losing 13-12 in 13 innings to the Joliet Slammers at Labatt Park on Sunday.
London’s Tony Delmonico (0-1), who started the game at second base, pitched the final three innings and gave up one earned run on four hits for the loss.
The game went back and forth all day. With the Rippers trailing 3-0, they put up a five-run third, capped by David Christensen’s three-RBI double and an RBI singles by Joash Brodin and Mark Samuelson.
Joliet tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run homer by David Fox.
The Slammers took an 8-6 lead into the eighth inning, but Brodin and Samuelson each had two-run doubles, putting London back ahead 10-8.
In the ninth, Rippers reliever David Francis couldn’t shut the door, giving up a two-RBI double to Jimmy Waters, tying the game 10-10. Both runs were unearned.
A throwing error and wild pitch helped Joliet go ahead 12-10 in the 12th, but Brodin drove in his fourth and fifth runs of the game with a single in the bottom of the inning.
Joliet’s Brad Netzel drove in the eventual winning run on a single in the 13th.
The Rippers hit the road Monday for six games. Their record is now 10-11.
Source: metronews.ca
The only difference between her and the other TOWIE girls is the colour of her skin, so that would make all you haters....dare I say the word it's so obvious.......!
- Enough, London, 11/6/2012 01:07
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