Contactless smart cards ensure the fastest possible throughput for employees
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The chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council and the Heart of the West Local Enterprise Partnership reacted with horror at news that the Treasury plans to declare the South West a low-pay zone for public sector workers. Tim Jones called the figures “unsustainable and devastating”. He added: “The deduction from spending power and ability to service mortgages would be horrendous.” The potential effects are widespread as there are an estimated 200,000 public sector workers in Devon and Cornwall.
Contactless smart cards used to operate Time and Attendance South West clocking or time and attendance systems provide peak efficiency for local businesses. The smart cards ensure the fastest possible throughput for employees. Each card reader transmits a 125 KHz frequency field (the electromagnetic field), which is picked up by an aerial in the smart card. The reader has two read bands within this field; an inner and outer band, and these are controlled and rapidly oscillated by the reader’s on-board microprocessor.
The Great Western Hospital at Swindon is set to be hit by strike action over alleged managerial “bullying and harassment”. The allegations are against contractor Carillion at Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust. Director of Workforce and Education at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Oonagh Fitzgerald said: “Allegations made by a member of staff of a contractor, or other third party are the responsibility of the company concerned.” If complaints occur, then she promised a fair investigation.
Police could not confirm whether a woman was knocked unconscious during an attack in a Gloucestershire toilet. She was found mysteriously laying on the floor in the shopping centre. During the incident police say a purse belonging to the woman, said to be from the area, was allegedly stolen. She was eventually found by staff from the Regent Arcade in Cheltenham who alerted the emergency services. Witnesses can call 101, quoting incident number 123 of December 7.
Customers at the Thermae Bath Spa, located in the historic city of Bath, had to grab their towels when they were evacuated by a fire alarm. About 100 people were left to loiter in the street for half an hour in their bathrobes outside the day spa. Firefighters were called but it turned out to be a false alarm which was confirmed as caused by a technical fault. The spa apologised and offered patrons the chance to extend their visits.
A spokesman for the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) confirmed that the Aztec West site in Bristol is closing. Hundreds of jobs are to be lost as the bank has announced 330 are to go, while the Unite union said the figure was closer to 440. An RBS statement said: “The Aztec West site is the second site closure announced by RBS in the South West.” Employees were told that the site closure would take place by the end of December 2012.
Around 200 new jobs will be created at a base in Filton, near Bristol. Manufacturer Airbus made the announcement this week regarding the aircraft manufacturing posts. Neil Scott, head of engineering at Airbus Filton, said the company “probably” made the best wings in the world so it needed the best engineers. This alleviates the autumn gloom felt in the local aircraft making industry. In September, BAE Systems said it was cutting almost 3,000 jobs, including 206 in Bristol and Somerset.
The Bristol operation of the firm Aviva is in danger of shutting. The insurance firm administers products for RBS at this site, but Aviva said it was consulting on closing it in 2012 with the loss of 380 jobs. In a statement, Aviva said it would be retaining about 60 specialist underwriting and claims assessment roles in Bristol. The union Unite said: “Unite members in Bristol will be stunned by the announcement.” The company said Aviva would “do everything” to redeploy those affected.
The number of criminals caught or convicted by Devon and Cornwall Police has gone down since it started shedding jobs. The force moved to its new ‘blueprint’ model in May to help manage the impact of having to lose 700 officers and up to 500 civilian staff to meet its budget cuts. Sergeant Nigel Rabbitts, chairman of Devon and Cornwall police federation, commented that the figures would “get worse”, especially after the force has just let go 80 civilian crime investigators.
A councillor welcomed the creation of 250 new jobs in Bridgwater. Of the news that the Chilcompton-based company Mulberry will build a new factory in Bridgwater, Doug Bamsey, director of regeneration at Sedgemoor District Council, commented he was “very pleased”. Mr Bamsey added: “I think it demonstrates that this is a choice location for those seeking a good quality skilled workforce which is what we’re very much about in Sedgemoor and Bridgwater."
Three WCs in Fowey could close as part of a move to halve Cornwall’s public toilet budget. A committee has recommended to cease funding for those at Caffa Mill, White House and the Town Quay in Fowey. The town’s remaining three toilets at Readymoney, the main car park and Polkerris, only have guaranteed grants until 2013-14. Fowey town clerk Sally Vincent said: “It is difficult to imagine how the town could cope without the facilities at Town Quay, Caffa Mill and Whitehouse.”