August 12, 2016 12.33 pm
This story is over 68 months old
Virgin Trains East Coast workers to strike three times this month
Workers on Virgin Trains East Coast are set to strike for three days over the rest of this month, including on the August bank holiday. Rail union RMT has confirmed a programme of strike action on Virgin Trains East Coast, claiming a threat to jobs, working conditions and safety. This comes after 84% of the…
Workers on Virgin Trains East Coast are set to strike for three days over the rest of this month, including on the August bank holiday.
Rail union RMT has confirmed a programme of strike action on Virgin Trains East Coast, claiming a threat to jobs, working conditions and safety.
This comes after 84% of the union voted for strike action earlier this week.
The union has instructed members at Virgin Trains East Coast to take the following industrial action:
All members except depot maintenance members are instructed to take strike action by not booking on for any turns of duty scheduled to commence between the following times:
3am on Friday, August 19 and 2.59am on Saturday, August 20.
3am on Friday, August 26 and 2.59am on Saturday August 27.
All members except depot maintenance members are instructed to take action short of strike by not working any overtime between the following dates and times:
3am on Saturday, August 27 and 2.59am on Monday, August 29.
All members except depot maintenance members are instructed to take strike action by not booking on for any turns of duty scheduled to commence between the following times:
3am on Monday, August 29 and 2.59am on Tuesday, August 30.
The union has claimed that nearly 200 jobs across the franchise are threatened by cuts that are being proposed.
RMT has asked the company to give assurances on six main points:
Redeployment and protection agreements will be adhered to at all times
There will be no compulsory redundancies
A safety-critical guard will be present on every train
Confirmation of establishment staffing numbers
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations to be adhered to
Rates of pay to be protected
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “RMT will not sit back while nearly 200 members’ jobs are under threat and while conditions and safety are put at risk by a franchise which is clearly in financial trouble.
“Our members are being subject to outrageous intimidation and bullying as their trains are commandeered as part of the scabbing process.
“The company have chosen to treat the negotiations as a game thus far, merely going through the motions of pretending they did not yet know what their plans entailed. To behave like that is to treat the union and its members with pure contempt.”
Virgin Trains reassures customers
Virgin Trains has reassured customers that it will run a full timetable during the industrial action.
David Horne, Managing Director for Virgin Trains on the east coast line, said, “We have worked hard to ensure there are comprehensive contingency plans in place and I want to reassure our customers that our timetable will be unaffected during these walk-outs, as well as during any subsequent strikes by the RMT.
“With our guarantees that there will be no compulsory redundancies, no impact on safety and a full timetable in place during the walk-outs, these strikes will cost RMT members pay for no reason, and we urge the union to rejoin us around the negotiating table.”
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A new mobile app has been created as a free digital version of The Little Book of Stamford with a guide to everything you need to know about the Lincolnshire town, including where to shop and places to eat and drink.
What’s on in the town, where to park and more are also included in The Little App of Stamford app. It is free to download from Apple’s App Store and an android version is planned for release on June 1.
The app was created by Stamford Digital in association with #ShopStamford, a hashtag set up five years ago to promote and support the town’s retailers and traders.
The app includes everything you need to know about Stamford, including where to shop, places to eat and drink, what’s on in town, and more.
Tim Baker, who lives in Bourne with his wife and two children, is the founder and managing director of website and app firm Stamford Digital which launched in September 2018.
Tim said: “I picked up The Little Book of Stamford and instantly loved what it stood for and the design. It is a great tool to help visitors and shoppers navigate Stamford, as well as helping local businesses to raise their profile.
“I thought by making the book available digitally through this mobile app, I could help compliment what it aims to achieve.”
The app is a free digital version of The Little Book of Stamford.
Sarah Sewell, who is the chairperson of #ShopStamford and owner of Energy Clothing, added: “The app is going to be a great add-on to the book and map we have already produced. It is yet another platform we can use to promote the wonderful independent businesses we have here in Stamford, so people can discover what we have to offer.”
Multi-million pound works to refurbish the now empty Lincoln Central Market have now begun.
The last traders left the building on April 15 (see their new locations here) ahead of the works to the Grade II listed market after investment from Historic England through the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) scheme.
The works will include the partial demolition and construction of a new two-storey extension to the south of the building (at Butchers Corridor). This will accommodate a new commercial unit, planned to be a restaurant, with a roof terrace.
A centrally located food court will also be housed inside the revamped building, while City Square and Sincil Street will be re-paved and the roof on the existing market building will be replaced. New unisex and accessibly toilets will also be installed.
The works being carried out by local construction company Lindum are expected to be complete by the end of 2023.
Some £5.9 million investment has also been earmarked for the project thanks to a successful bid for funding through the Be Lincoln Town Deal, which has seen £19 million awarded to the city by government to drive economic regeneration and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth.
Design for a potential new-look Lincoln Central Market. | Photo: COLC
The proposed scheme is for the major regeneration of the Central Market building, which will include:
The opening up of the blind arches on the north and east elevations
A new mezzanine floor and relocation of the existing butcher and fishmonger stalls into the main market hall under the mezzanine incorporating its own glazed entrance
Replacement roofing and glazed lantern
Demolition of the butcher’s corridor to the south of the building and the construction of a new two storey extension to accommodate a new restaurant with a roof terrace
New heating and lighting in the building
Freestanding stalls in the interior space of a contemporary, minimal design for local businesses to promote local produce and an area within the centre of the Market Hall to accommodate seating for the associated food outlets within the stalls.
Unisex toilets including disabled and baby changing facilities
It is also proposed to repave and enhance external areas in City Square and Sincil Street to encourage the evening economy, with space for outdoor dining by the waterway and events.
The addition of the mezzanine level will allow for additional seating and flexible uses. The creation of the standalone restaurant unit within the new two storey extension, will create a further ‘destination’ dining space as well as supporting the evening economy.
Some pretty major works are planned for Lincoln’s Central Market. | Image: Daniel Ionescu for The Lincolnite
Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said: “The vision for Central Market for some time has been to design a building of destination, an attractive and modern retailing and leisure space, offering a mix of stalls and delivering a place where people want to visit and dwell rather than simply pass by en-route to the High Street or the Transport links in the city.
“Thanks to funding from government’s Towns Fund and High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), we now have the opportunity for major investment into the market to create a sustainable future for this important historical asset, which will in turn support the diversification and recovery of the High Street.”
The market was first built in 1937 to the design of architect Robert Atkinson and incorporates the relocated façade of the original 1737 butter market, which was located at St Peters at Arches in Lincoln.
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