Christmas postal strike postponed

Thu 05 Nov 2009

LONDON (SHARECAST) - The prospect of major disruption to Christmas post receded today as the Post Office workers called off their planned strike tomorrow and Monday to allow talks to resume with management over modernisation plans.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the decision had been made to provide "a period of calm" to enable a long-term deal to be thrashed out, though he added agreement over a deal remained a long way away.

Communications Workers Union deputy general secretary Dave Ward said the decision to end the strike action had been unanimously agreed by its executive board.

"We can now have a period of calm where we hope we can genuinely take forward modernisation in a way that puts the union at the centre," he said.

"It will take exceptional efforts to rebuild trust," he said. "But we will work very hard to ensure that the agreement stays on track," he added.

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Extra taxes plan for car boot sales

(UKPA) – Oct 18, 2009

Car boot sales will face extra taxes under new Government plans, it has emerged.

A revaluation of business rates from next April is set to hit the sites of car boot sales, including pub car parks, ministers confirmed.

Communities Minister Barbara Follett confirmed the plans in a written answer to shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman, saying: "Where a property is used entirely, or on occasion, as a car boot sale site, its rateable value for the 2010 revaluation should reflect any rental enhancement attributable to that use."

Mrs Spelman accused Prime Minister Gordon Brown of a "tax assault" on those who wanted to use car boot sales to kit out their homes during the recession.

The Valuation Office Agency is set to revalue business rates in England and Wales in April 2010. For car boot sales, these rates will be on top of those charged by the council.

The Tories said the Government was "tapping into the growing popularity" of car boot sales as a result of the credit crunch.

They warned that higher taxes on car boot sales would inevitably be passed on to customers through higher admission charges and more expensive goods.

Mrs Spelman said: "In the depths of a recession, car boot sales are more important than ever to help households raise some cash or give people a chance to buy second-hand.

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Another attack from this government on recycling and the environment, so next time they are at the door and saying we are looking after the environment for your children, then you can shut the door in their face with a loud laugh, and not feel guilty over it.