A round-up of HR-related stories in today’s newspapers.
The result of a union ballot that could lead to strike action at BAA airports over the summer will be revealed later today. The Unite union has balloted 6,185 of its members – including firefighters, security guards and engineers – that work for airports operator BAA to vote for strike action in a dispute over pay. Unite has called BAA’s pay offer of a 1% increase this year “paltry”, but the company says it is reasonable, the BBC reports.
The number of people working beyond the age of 65 is rising at the fastest rate since records began with one in 12 people aged over 65 now working, official figures show. In the last three months an extra 40,000 people over the age of 65 have joined the work force, taking the total number to 823,000 – the highest number since the Office for National Statistics started recording these figures in 1992, according to the Telegraph.
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The MPs’ expenses body has advertised for an £80,000-per-year operations director, after the last one quit “for the sake of health and sanity”, reports the BBC. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority says the job involves making sure it is a “cost effective” body. Ipsa has been attacked by some MPs over the new expenses system it oversees, as well as its own running costs.
Five police officers will learn today if they will be charged over a racist attack on a terrorist suspect. Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer is expected to announce whether or not anyone will face trial over the arrest of British Muslim Babar Ahmad, the Independent reports. Up to five Metropolitan Police officers could be prosecuted over an attack on the 36-year-old as he was held in Tooting, south London, in December 2003.
