PCS news digest 10 February

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10 February 2012

This weekly news digest is a summary of news, campaign articles, media releases and reports from the past week

10 February

Elderly told: go back to work and downsize – Daily Telegraph

Elderly people should be encouraged to go back to work and move into smaller homes, one of David Cameron’s key advisers, reported the Daily Telegraph.

Tax breaks for toffs who employ domestic staff – Daily Mirror

The Daily Mirror reported that the prime minister said that helping “Bertie Woosters” to recruit “Jeeves” in the shape of cleaners and gardeners would help women get jobs.

End energy profiteering: The rich get richer, the poor get colder – the Independent

Big Six suppliers heading for bumper profits and bonuses as more than 5.5 million UK homes hit by fuel poverty, reported the Independent.

9 February

Spending watchdog confirms union fears on defence cuts – PCS website

A report published by the government's spending watchdog confirmed PCS's warnings that the Ministry of Defence is cutting loyal, skilled staff before working out how it will support our armed forces in the months and years ahead.

Union to consult on further pensions action – PCS website

Senior elected representatives of the largest union in the civil service, PCS, has unanimously agreed to consult members over continued campaigning against the government's cuts to public sector pensions.

Solar subsidy cuts spark job fears – the Independent

The Government has unveiled plans for further cuts to solar subsidies, sparking concerns over the future of the industry and thousands of clean-tech jobs, reported the Independent.

8 February

Subcontractors at Capgemini sent home in jobs risk fears – Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star reported a number of office staff at one of the biggest employers in Telford have been sent home and told they may lose their jobs next month, union chiefs claimed today.

Ignore the soporific jargon of procurement. Privatisation is a race to the bottom – the Guardian

The outsourcing of state services always leads to workers being paid less. Instead our leaders call it an 'efficiency saving', says Zoe Williams in the Guardian.

7 February

Cameron wrong on Robin Hood Tax – City still pays, but to EU not UK – UnionNews

The UnionNews website ran an article covering an Ernst and Young report which wrecks the government’s claims that blocking a Robin Hood Tax is in Britain’s interests.

PCS hits out at private debt collector plans – Morning Star

Civil service union PCS slammed proposals to use more private debt collectors within Revenue and Customs and other government departments to retrieve public debt, reported the Morning Star.

6 February

Minister claims there “isn’t a shortage of jobs” – Guardian

Maria Miller, a Conservative minister in the Department for Work and Pensions has said that the UK does not have "a shortage of jobs", but said the issue is rather that unemployed people lack the skills that they need, reported the Guardian.

Ending corporation tax relief for big bank bonuses could raise £1.7billion a year – TUC

Ending corporation tax relief for pay and bonuses worth more than 10 times average annual earnings (£26,200) could raise around £1.7bn a year if applied to the banking and financial services sector, according to a new TUC report.

5 February

North-south divide grows as jobs are lost as four times the rate elsewhere – Observer

Unemployment figures give new impetus to calls for an elected assembly for the north of England, according to the Observer.

Women at more risk since cuts – Sunday Mirror

Women’s charities and rape crisis centres are losing up to 88% of council funding, reported the Sunday Mirror.

4 February

Bankers paid too much, admits RBS chairman – the Scotsman

The chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland has admitted that bankers’ pay is too high and needs to be cut, reported the Scotsman.

Public and Commercial Services Union