British Airways has “removed from duty” 11 pilots and three cabin crew members after allegations in a television documentary that they breached regulations on drinking alcohol before flights. The claims are due to be made in Channel 4’s Dispatches programme which will be broadcast on Thursday. BA has launched an internal investigation.
NUT pay demand
The recruitment crisis in teaching, particularly in London, will only be resolved by a large pay rise, the National Union of Teachers has told the Teachers’ Review Body. The union said a 14 per cent pay rise is needed to make recruitment easier. The review body will recommend pay levels to ministers.
Transfer walk-outs
Staff at Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust are staging further strike action in protest at plans to transfer their employment under the private finance initiative. The latest strike began on 2 October and is due to end this week, said union Unison. A series of strikes have been held over the past two months involving about 600 non-clinical staff (News, 26 Sept).
Hours law update
The European Court of Justice has delivered its first judgement on the effect of the Working Time Directive, upholding the UK approach to the regulations. The case centred on a clarification of whether hours worked on call count as working time. Had the court reached a different verdict, it would have undermined current use of the directive in the UK.
Two jobs for nurses
A third of nurses are forced to take second jobs because of low pay in the NHS, according to research. Public service union Unison, which questioned 3,500 nurses, found one in three take on extra work through nursing agencies. About two-thirds also told researchers they would not recommend the job to others.
Orange favours NE
Mobile phone company Orange is to create 1,500 jobs at a call centre in North Tyneside. The move will bring the number of staff employed by Orange in the North East to 5,500. Orange says its decision to set up another call centre in the region was influenced by the quality of the staff it is able to attract there.
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Careers on holiday
Half of employees give their careers a long hard look while on holiday with many vowing to change jobs when they get home, says the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. October is a key month for job moves but if you are leaving in the next few weeks, REC advises that you always try to leave the door open.
