The GMB said the deal, covering 10,000 of its members employed in transport and warehouse operations in 20 depots in England, Wales and Scotland, was the first of its kind anywhere in the world involving the United States-owned company.
The agreement, signed at the GMB's annual conference in Brighton today, follows 14 months of negotiations and was described as a "huge step forward" by the union.
GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "The growing confidence in the benefits collective bargaining can bring to productivity, staff retention, growth and positive and stable industrial relations is there for all to see following all the hard work of all the parties involved over the past few years."
Ian Stansfield, director of distribution at Asda, said: "This is a ground-breaking agreement that brings our practices up to date and creates the framework for the way Asda distribution and GMB will work together.
"It secures jobs, supports growth and ensures our operation is as efficient as possible at a time when our customers are relying on us more than ever to save them money every day."
GMB national officer Mick Rix added: "This agreement is truly ground-breaking and historic. The agreement delivers a new relationship of working together to enhance the job security of GMB members, enhances their skills and has created a benchmark in terms of health and safety that will move standards in this highly complex logistics sector, where safety is paramount, to new levels."
The Asda depots covered by the deal are at Grangemouth and Falkirk in Scotland, Skelmersdale, Wigan, Warrington, Washington, Doncaster, Wakefield, Lymedale, Lutterworth, Erith, Bedford, Bristol and Chepstow.
PA
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Green light for Newhaven Asda plan divides opinion - Lewes Today
AN ERROR of historic proportions was how MP Norman Baker chose to describe the decision to grant planning permission for 190 homes and an Asda in Newhaven.
The MP warned that Lewes District Council planning committee approving the Eastside Asda scheme from developers Avalon, but refusing the Railway Quay Tesco scheme from developers Arrowcroft, would have serious long-term consequences for the town.
The Eastside scheme divided opinion on the planning committee, where it was voted through by a 6 to 5 majority on Wednesday May 23.
Since then the move has prompted a flurry of letters to the Sussex Express, outlining their differing views on the decision, from the MP, cllr Rod Main, cllr Steve Saunders and others.
Mr Baker said: “The planning committee has ignored its own officers’ recommendation to defer the decision for two months, and taken a bizarre decision which I fear may be very harmful for the future of the town and for the port in particular. They have made an error of historic and far-reaching proportions.”
The MP argued the Eastside scheme would fatally undermine the shops in the town centre, damage job creation by allowing housing and retail on industrial land and divert scarce planning gain money into phase one of the port access road, which the port said it did not want or need. He added it would pull the rug out from under the port master plan and threaten the future of the port.
But leader of the district council James Page said: “Newhaven deserves the best. It has huge potential and I had hoped that the opportunity to hear both planning proposals together would have allowed members to weigh up the benefits of both schemes before coming to their decision.
“Frustratingly, the transport solution for the Railway Quay development could not be agreed by the Highways Authority and with such strong objection in place members’ hands were tied.
“I attended the committee meeting and was impressed by the detailed questions from councillors around the possible transport solutions and wider regeneration benefits. The deferral option lost credibility when East Sussex County Council stated they could see no workable solution ahead.”
Cllr Page said Lewes District Council worked hard to get all the facts before the committee and to look at the very important issues around: keeping the existing town centre alive, growth and business opportunities and the relationship with the port and helping deliver its master plan.
He said the council took seriously the feedback from the public consultation and considered the schemes against its own published regeneration strategy.
l Turn to page 5
Email to a friend
Print this pageSource: www.sussexexpress.co.uk
Football Spy: Blackpool fear Holloway will Swan off for another crack at the Prem - Daily Mirror
Tangerine stalwart Ian Evatt admits he is worried Blackpool could lose inspirational manager Ian Holloway this summer, writes David Anderson.
Holloway is understood to be on Swansea's shortlist to succeed Brendan Rodgers and the former QPR and Leicester boss is desperate to work in the Premier League again.
Evatt says it would be a big blow for the Seasiders if Holloway left this summer in the wake of their play-off final defeat to West Ham and he hopes they can hang on to him.
"The key is keeping the squad together, including the manager, because some people are going to be looking at him," said the centre-half.
"I worry about losing him because the job he has done is fantastic. To get any team playing the way we have for the last couple of seasons is some achievement.
"We play the right way. It is attractive to watch and it is still a travesty the better team lost at Wembley.
"So it is vital the manager stays. Just look at the way the team played at Wembley, and I hope every fan who came to that game was proud of us because they should be."
Desailly: I turned down Swansea job
Former Chelsea star Marcel Desailly claims he has rejected an approach from Swansea to become their new manager, writes David Anderson.
Desailly claims the Swans wanted to include him on their shortlist to succeed Brendan Rodgers, but feels it is too early for him to manage in the Premier League.
The former World Cup winner is working on his UEFA coaching badges at a course in Wales and told Le 10 Sport: "I was approached, but it is not the right time.
"Everything seemed fine, but it was too early."
Swansea may disagree with Desailly's claims and it is understood they have whittled down their shortlist of candidates to just Ian Holloway and Michael Laudrup.
Chairman Huw Jenkins has said that the Swans hope to have a new manager by the end of the week.
Warnock fears White is on his way out of Elland Road
Neil Warnock is resigned to losing rising star Aidan White this summer, writes David Anderson.
White's Leeds deal expires at the end of this month and contract negotiations have ground to a halt with Warnock claiming the Irishman's camp have told them the club's new offer is unacceptable.
Werder Bremen and Lille are keen on the 20-year-old winger, who has come through the ranks at Elland Road, and Warnock feels powerless to stop him going.
"I don’t expect he’ll accept the offer from what I was told by his advisors," said the Leeds boss.
Leeds will receive compensation if White leaves on a free this summer, but the sum will be reduced if he goes abroad.
Meanwhile, Leeds have offered veteran midfielder Michael Brown a new 12-month deal on much-reduced terms.
Brown, 35, who joined Leeds last summer on a one-year deal, is said to be mulling over the offer and has pencilled in a meeting with Warnock when he returns from holiday.
Life begins again at 40 for Pollitt
Wigan's longest-serving player, Mike Pollitt, has agreed a new one-year deal to keep him at the DW Stadium for an eighth season, writes David Anderson.
Pollitt, 40, was the club's first Premier League signing in 2005 and boss Roberto Martinez was keen to hang on to him with his current deal due to expire at the end of this month.
Chris Kirkland is set to leave the Latics and Martinez wants Pollitt to provide cover for Ali Al Habsi.
"Above all Mike is a fantastic goalkeeper, whose experience and professionalism sets a high standard in training every day," said the Wigan manager.
"He has had to be patient for opportunities on the pitch, but his commitment is never questioned and for the younger members of our squad he remains the example to follow, and we're delighted to have him with us next season."
USA calling out to Shevchenko
Ukraine hero Andriy Shevchenko is wanted in America's MLS next season, according to his agent, writes Neil McLeman.
The former Milan and Chelsea star scored twice as the Euro 2012 hosts beat Sweden in their opening match.
Shevchenko, now 35, has played back at his hometown club Dynamo Kiev since 2009.
But his agent Fabio Parisi said: "Andriy will continue to play next season. Where? Perhaps in America where he already has a number of contacts."
Source: www.mirror.co.uk
Hard-pressed motorists see 3p drop in the cost of a litre of petrol as Sainsbury's and Asda start forecourt price war - Daily Mail
- New prices will come into effect tomorrow
- Move comes after a warning from Government that it was looking at ways to ensure petrol retailers do not delay price cuts when wholesale costs fall
- Lowest price in over a year as prices have fallen 11p since their peak in April
- But cost of petrol will start to rise again in the summer because of Government plans for fuel duty increase in August
By Jill Reilly
|
A fresh supermarket price war on the forecourts is underway with giants Asda and Sainsbury's cutting up to 3p a litre from the price of fuel.
The retailers said the new charges would come into effect tomorrow.
The slash follows April’s record high petrol prices, which pushed the price of filling a family car to 100.
Slashed: Supermarket giants Asda and Sainsbury's are cutting up to 3p a litre from the price of fuel. The retailers said the new prices would come into effect tomorrow
The cuts mean that filling a typical car will be the cheapest since February 2011, according to experts.
Asda said an ease in global oil prices has enabled it to pass those savings on to motorists.
Transport Secretary Justine Greening said the Government would be prepared to introduce new laws to control prices
Drivers filling up at any of Asda's 195 forecourts nationwide will now pay no more than 129.7p per litre for unleaded and 134.7p per litre for diesel.
Andy Peake, Asda's director of petrol trading, said: 'Motorists will be pleased to know fuel is now at the lowest price in over a year as prices have fallen 11p since their peak in April.
'Unlike other retailers, our price cuts benefit everyone across the country, meaning that no-one filling up at Asda will be forced to pay a premium for their fuel.'
A Sainsbury's spokesman said: 'From tomorrow we will be cutting petrol and diesel prices in our petrol stations by up to 3p per litre. Sainsbury's is committed to delivering great value and helping customers cut down on cost wherever possible.'
A spokesman for the AA welcomed the cuts, saying that motorists would be getting a 'good price' for fuel.
But the cost of petrol looks set to rise again in the summer - in August the Government has planned 3.02 pence per litre rise in fuel duty.
The move to pass on lower prices to drivers comes after a warning from Government that it was looking at ways to ensure petrol retailers do not delay price cuts when wholesale costs fall.
Two weeks ago, Transport Secretary Justine Greening said companies should develop a code of practice to stop the 'indefensible' practice of petrol companies raising prices at the pump as soon as wholesale petrol and oil prices rise, only to delay lowering them again when costs fall.
She said the Government would be prepared to introduce new laws to bring about the change if companies failed to come up with a code of their own.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
The current ARA quotation for 95RON unleaded is 918$/Te which is 44p/l. Add to this 57.95p/l fuel duty = 1.02/l. Multiply this by 1.20 to account for the VAT = 1.22p/l. Now add 11p/l for storage, transportation and retail margin and you arrive at a total of 1.33p/l. Back in April 95RON unleaded peaked at 1,208$/Te which would result in a price at the pump of 1.49/l using the same calculation and adjusting for the /$ exchange rate. As you can see even though the market quotation is lower by 25% the pump price is only lower by 11%. This is because duty and VAT comprises about 55-60% of the price, transportation etc about 7% and the wholsale price of the fuel the remaining 38-33%. Therefore when the wholelsale price of fuel reduces by 25% the pump price will only reduce by approximately (25% x 35%)*1.2 (VAT) = 11%. It should also be remembered that the oil market is based on $ quotations and in April the exchange rate was 1.60$/$ compared with 1.56$/ currently.
- Oilman, London, 12/6/2012 22:21
Report abuse