Hundreds of museum workers are to go on strike over pay, bringing disruption to some of the country's most popular tourist attractions.The walkout will affect the Science Museums in London and Swindon, the National Media Museum in Bradford, and the National Railway Museum in York. Unions said staff were "furious" after being given a below-inflation pay deal. About 200 museum staff in London walked out earlier this week in anotherdispute over pay. The museums say they will remain open, despite the strikes.The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said the pay deal on offer to staff at the museums had been delayed by more than a year and would mean many people would receive less than 3% for 2007-08 and 2.7% for 2008-09. The Prospect union said the increase was "insulting" and only set aside 1.5% for a cost-of-living increase in 2007. It also said the only pay increases allocated to 2008 were performance-related. 'Draconian policy'Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, said: "Strike action is not a step our members take lightly but, faced with pitiful pay levels and real-term pay cuts, hard-working staff have taken the decision to make a stand. "Museum staff along with other civil and public servants have grown increasingly frustrated with the government's policy of below-inflation pay, which is driving down the living standards of a diverse and dedicated workforce. "Management have to recognise that it has to pay a fair wage and the government needs to rethink its draconian pay policy." Prospect national officer Emily Boase said: "Members are furious and their patience has been exhausted." Workers at the Museum of London and the organisation's Archaeology Services went on strike on Monday in protest at a two-year 2% pay rise. The museum said it was bound by public sector pay policy set by the government. View More » Comenta la noticia. »
NHS workers in the Unite union have become the latest to reject the government's three-year pay deal - and have voted to ballot for strike action.That ballot would offer the options of both a complete strike, or lesser action such as an overtime ban.The GMB and Royal College of Midwives have already rejected the deal, while Unison and the Royal College of Nursing backed the offer for English NHS staff.Ministers said the 8% deal is fair, and they were not willing to renegotiate. Our members are angry and frustrated that they are being asked by the government to accept this woefully inadequate ... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
A teenager died a fortnight after having an abortion because of delays in giving her a vital blood transfusion, an inquest in Bristol has heard.A-level student Manon Jones, 18, from Caernarfon, Gwynedd began to bleed after the operation and admitted herself to hospital, where she died. A doctor told the inquest the Southmead Hospital ward in Bristol had been busy and "things could have been different." Miss Jones died in 2005. The coroner recorded a narrative verdict. Manon found it very hard to make a decision to terminate the pregnancy, she wanted to keep the child but there were... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
Problems over botched body piercings could be a "substantial burden" on the NHS in the near future, a study says. The British Medical Journal study found one in 10 people - and nearly half of all younger women - have a body piercing other than on the earlobe.Many people avoid specialist clinics, doing it themselves, or trusting friends or relatives and face a greater risk of complications.Non-specialist piercings could also mean hepatitis infection, experts said. There is a message here for the health service, that body piercing is really very common Dr Angie Bone
Health... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
Gardeners have been warned about a mould, called Aspergillus, that grows on compost and decaying wood following the death of a middle-aged man.He developed severe breathing problems after working with rotting wood and plant mulch in his garden.Medical journal The Lancet reported that the man, aged 47, died despite hospital anti-fungal treatment.An expert said a dust-mask was a good idea when moving large quantities of mouldy bark chippings or compost. This should not be a problem for your average small-scale gardener who is using small quantities of compost at one time Professor David... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
Warnings about the emergence of a "new superbug" have been overhyped, say infection control experts.Writing in the British Medical Journal, Health Protection Agency staff say concerns about Stenotrophomonas maltophilia are unfounded.The bacterium hit the headlines in May after University of Bristol researchers published its genetic code, which it is hoped could lead to better treatments.It is thought more than 1,000 people in the UK may be infected every year.There were 671 reports to the Health Protection Agency in England in 2007, but this is likely to be an underestimate and does ... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
IRELAND The organisation that monitors paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland says it has no evidence linking the death of Paul Quinn to the IRA leadership.The 21-year-old Co Armagh man received fatal injuries when he was beaten by a gang in a Co Monaghan shed last October.
He had been lured over the border from his Cullyhanna home and beaten by up to 12 men.
At public meetings, allegations have been made about Provisional IRA involvement in the murder.
In a report issued today, the Independent Monitoring Commission states that it is not attributing the killing to the IRA.
It... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
View More »
