Tony Watson blew the whistle on Lendlease’s questionable tax practices. Now he has to sell his family home
Lendlease is facing a big battle with major investors, with a showdown expected later this month.
public sector
Our View: There is no nursing shortage in public hospitals
Unions representing public hospital nurses demanded the hiring of another 170 nurses due to staff shortages. Public hospitals are always short-staffed, with significant shortages caused by retirements, transfers, and staff on leave. Private hospitals have more flexible working conditions and can service the same number of beds with a third of the nurses. The health ministry and Okypy should focus on making better use of hospital staff rather than hiring more nurses. Some nurses are seconded to other parts of the public sector and not performing nursing duties, contributing to the staffing shortage.
IWW Cyprus: Workers spend the majority of their daily lives in undemocratic workplaces
The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is a global labor union that has been organizing in Cyprus since 2020. The IWW stands out from traditional trade unions by being a union for all workers, including minorities, migrants, and sex workers. The IWW is not trying to be friendly with employers and government, unlike traditional unions. The IWW is a horizontal organization that values transparency and full participation rights for all members. The IWW encourages workers to join traditional trade unions as well. In Cyprus, the IWW organizes all workers under one big union, unlike traditional federations divided by profession or sector. The IWW aims to prioritize organizing over mere mobilizing and believes in forming strong relationships with fellow workers.
Our View: Public servants, ’ sense of entitlement is uncanny
The public servants union Pasydy expressed displeasure over regulations that deprive its members and their families of the right to medical care at state hospitals not covered by Gesy.
UK employers plan 4 per cent pay rises in coming year
British employers expect to raise wages by 4 per cent over the coming 12 months, according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Turkey unveils plan to curb spending, increase efficiency
Turkey announced a savings plan to rein in public spending and boost efficiency. The plan includes pausing new vehicle purchases and rentals, as well as construction of new buildings for three years. Funds allocated for state institutions’ purchases of goods and services will be reduced by 10% and those for investment will be cut by 15%. The number of new public sector personnel will be limited to the level of those retiring. The goal is to strengthen the economic foundations of the country by ensuring fiscal discipline and increasing efficiency in the public sector.
Contract soldiers receive pay rise
Professional soldiers received a pay rise after the cabinet approved a proposal made by Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas. The new pay scales will come into effect from July 1, with soldiers now on the public sector A2-A5-A7 scale. The government aims to strengthen the value of the National Guard by improving operational capacity through the hiring of contract soldiers. Future contract soldier recruits will be hired for a total of 10 years of service based on consecutive contracts ranging between a year and three years in length.
High-profile suspects back in court over fake diploma scandal
– Two high-profile suspects in the north’s fake diploma scandal appeared in court in Morphou.
– Serdal Gunduz threatened the university’s vice rector and forced him to sign degree certificates obtained through illegal means.
– Gunduz holds residence permits in Greece and Russia, making him a flight risk.
– Sefa Karahasan’s degree certificate was signed by someone other than the university’s rector.
– Karahasan was given a 100,000TL bail with two guarantors.
– Opposition party CHP deputy leader criticized the government for appointing Karahasan as TRT’s Cyprus correspondent.
– The fake diploma scandal involved multiple high-profile figures in the north’s education system.
– Turkey’s higher education council announced intentions to prepare a report on the state of the north’s education system.
– Former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust was arrested for fraudulently obtaining money and his wife was arrested for receiving a fake diploma.
Our View: Akel, ’s May Day message may have completely missed the mark
Fact: Sotiroulla Charalambous, the general secretary of the Akel union federation Peo, discussed important Marxist ideas such as the exploitation of workers and the class struggle in an interview given on May Day.
San Francisco’s plan to break the doom loop? Fix business taxes
A proposal to reform San Francisco’s business tax formula is being considered for approval by voters in November. The proposal would modify the gross receipts tax to focus on a company’s sales instead of its on-site headcount, potentially leading to tax cuts for small businesses and making it more attractive for large companies to keep their workers in the city. The plan is expected to be revenue neutral over time, with initial declines in business tax revenue before increases in the following years. The proposal would also raise the threshold for exemption from gross receipts taxes for small businesses. The effort to reform the tax structure has gathered momentum over the past year and has involved major San Francisco employers, labor unions, and other stakeholders in negotiations. Labor unions are not expected to actively oppose the measure’s passage.