The
Government needs tougher tactics if it wants to create a socially and
environmentally responsible business culture according to the Industrial
Society’s chief executive. In a new essay Putting back the P in Plc, Will
Hutton say the Government needs to set targets and to make it clear it will
impose legislation if corporate Britain will not accept its public
responsibilities. http://www.indsoc.co.uk/
Jobs
go to cut costs
Film
and camera maker Polaroid is poised to cut 235 jobs at its factory in
Dumbarton, Scotland, according to reports. The Scottish job cuts are part of
the company’s plans to axe 1,000 jobs worldwide over the next three months.
Polaroid blamed the moves on the need to cut overheads and “realign” the
company’s resources. http://www.polaroid.com/
Straw
asks for views
The
Home Secretary has invited public bodies and other organisations to help shape
race equality legislation. Jack Straw appealed for feedback when he launched a
consultation document on the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, which
includes a general duty on public bodies to promote race equality.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/
Action
on poor safety
The
TUC has called on employers and the Government to help improve the construction
industry’s poor safety record. It issued an action plan at this week’s
Construction Summit, which will be presented to Deputy Prime Minister John
Prescott. The union wants to set up a whistleblowers’ hotline for employees to
report employers. http://www.tuc.org.uk/
Car
firm faces strikes
Vauxhall
workers have started industrial action to protest at plans to close the firm’s
Luton plant in 2002 with the loss of 2,000 jobs.
T&G
union members at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant joined the Luton plant for
strikes last Friday. Bill Morris, the T&G’s general secretary, said the
union and its members want to make Vauxhall maintain car production. http://www.tgwu.org.uk/