UK trade unions meet with ministers in government bid to end strikes
January 10, 2023, 10:51 am

UK trade unions meet with ministers in government bid to end strikes

Outdoor market in London, UK (Photo: Pixabay)

With the UK’s inflation rate hitting double digits and sitting around 40-year highs, many sectors including rail workers, ambulance staff and nurses have staged industrial action, demanding a “decent” pay rise.

Despite negotiations, no solutions have been reached so far. Teachers and unionized doctors are also expected to take part in a walkout in the coming days due to below-inflation pay offers.

On Monday, which marked the first day in almost a month that the railways have not been disrupted by strikes, Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) general secretary Mick Lynch said ministers should “stop play-acting” and end the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions on the railway.

Prior to his meeting with Rail Minister Huw Merriman, Lynch said: “Today I want to see the government stop play-acting because the truth, written in black and white in their rail contracts, is that they’ve been in complete control of this dispute from day one. The minister cannot hide behind this fairy story that he is just a facilitator. His government can end this dispute today by taking out the conditions they put in to torpedo a resolution and let the companies make a deal.”

Passengers queue for busses outside Victoria Station London, on August 19, 2022, as strike action on Buses, National Rail and London Underground affects services. (AFP)

The government is expected to announce legislation to enforce “minimum service levels” in six sectors including rail, education and health services in the coming days.

The laws will require a proportion of union members to continue working to retain a "minimum level" of service. Strikes could be deemed illegal if unions refused to provide the minimum level.

UK to enter Christmas, New Year amid fresh strikes

According to Network Rail, which develops and operates Britain’s railway infrastructure, the industry has lost more than £400 million ($487 million) in revenue due to a total of 21 days of strikes since last summer.

Health secretary accused of ‘insulting’ health workers

Unite, one of the unions involved in talks with Health Secretary Steve Barclay, has described what was put on the table as an “insult” to members.

Barclay has reportedly suggested that the health workers could get a one-off extra payment which would need to be evaluated according to their productivity. After the meeting, Unite negotiator Onay Kasab blasted the approach as an "insult" and said he was "angry," adding: “The government have missed yet another opportunity to put this right.”

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Onay said: “All the government are interested in is saying that in order to justify a payment, we need to come up with productivity savings in the National Health Service (NHS). Our members are working 18-hour shifts. How you become more productive with that I do not know.”

Britain braces for winter of strike action as nurses walk out

He said he was “extremely angry” while describing the meeting he had with the minister and his proposal.

“That is absolutely ludicrous. This isn’t a factory we’re talking about. We are talking about people who are working well beyond their contracted hours anyway just to get the job done, because they can’t hand patients over because they care so much,” he said.

Government hopeful of finding solution

During a visit to a health center Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the talks with unions were a "positive development."

"We've always said that the government is happy to talk about pay demands and pay issues that are anchored in what's reasonable, what's responsible, what's affordable for the country," Sunak told the media.

Unions have said they will only call off strikes in the next few weeks if offers are made to resolve the disputes over this year's pay settlement, while the government wants to negotiate pay rises for next year.

When asked about the one-off extra payment that the health secretary proposed to unions, Sunak declined to comment.

Source: aa

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.