New research shows too much work is not good for you after all

http://www.unitetheunion.com/news__events/latest_news/new_research_shows_too_much_wo.aspx?lang=en-gb

With all the kafuffle from UK businesses and the government around opt outs to the working time directive, and fit notes instead of sick notes, new research shows in fact too much work is not good for you.
There has been an overtime culture in the UK for decades, with millions of workers actually working this overtime for no extra pay. Employees who work long hours could be putting themselves at risk of developing dementia. That is according to research from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.The study of 2,214 British civil servants found that middle aged employees who worked for over 55 hours a week also had worse short term memory and were less able to recall words than those who worked less than 41 hours.
Commenting on the results, the researchers said: "This study shows that long working hours may have a negative effect on cognitive performance in middle age."The link between cognitive impairment and dementia later in life is clearly established."The researchers went on to suggest that employees who work long hours are putting themselves as at much risk of developing dementia as those who smoke.

Uniserve to build DC at Felixstowe

http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/news/uniserve-to-build-dc-at-felixstowe/20017624834.htm


Logistics firm Uniserve has purchased 10.6ha of land at the port of Felixstowe and plans to build a £45m (US$63.9m) distribution centre on the site.

Iain Liddell, MD of Uniserve Holdings, said building a facility on the port would allow it to save customers money.

"The portcentric development will deliver cost savings on inland transport, reduced carbon emissions and enhanced speed of service,” said Liddell.

“This project will also provide an unrivalled opportunity for Uniserve's customers to join with the company, in developing a purpose built port-side distribution centre, with the added attraction of a rail link capability.”

American Commercial trims workforce

http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/american-commercial-trims-workforce/20017624773.htm

AMERICAN Commercial Lines revealed that it sacked 15% of its land-based salaried workforce last week, as it concluded that economic conditions would remain ‘difficult’ this year.

This revelation was accompanied by news that American Commercial Lines has closed its Houston office and imposed a salary freeze on the rest of its staff for 2009, as part of “continuing and accelerating efforts to drive costs out of the business in every area”.

Chinese port volumes shrink in February

http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/chinese-port-volumes-shrink-in-february/20017624832.htm;jsessionid=8E99C95A7CE74C9B22E9890EBA077544

MAJOR Chinese ports, including Shenzhen and Shanghai, saw volumes continue to deteriorate in February as the country sees no sign of export recovery.

Big brother port Shanghai recorded another double-digit shrinkage in volumes in February. The world’s second-busiest boxport handled 1.5m teu in February and 1.9m teu in January this year, representing year-on-year declines of 19% and 17% compared to the same months last year, according to Shanghai International Port Group.

Meanwhile, neighbouring port Ningbo port even saw throughput dive deeper in February. Ningbo port said it handled 1.4m teu in the first two months of this year, down 14% from the same period last year. The decline in monthly box volumes has widened from 5% in January to 23% in February.

Shenzhen port, the nation’s second-largest container port, also saw box volumes fall by 21% in the first two months of this year.

"A" Shift senior shop steward elections.

I'd like to thank you people that read the blog. I do it in my spare time and at my own expense to help keep my workmates informed of any issues I think might be of interest. Now I'd like to ask you for something in exchange!

Sometime after March 20th there will be an election for the post of Senior Shop Steward working with "A" shift. I will be standing and would like your votes. So here's a little bit about me and why I want the postion.

About me.

My name is Andy Hussey. I have worked for the Port of Felixstowe for over five years. I started in warehousing and am now employed as a tug driver on Trinity. Previously I worked in light haulage and tried my hand at pub management.
I have a large family of six children, four of my own and two step kids. My hobbies include my allotment, scootering, photography, tattoos (getting them and going to conventions), and walking my Border terrier.

Why did I apply for the position of workforce rep, and why am I standing as senior shop steward?

In the past I felt that the union was missing a link between them and the people that mattered. I feel passionately about keeping my work mates informed about union and health & safety matters. After getting the position of workforce rep I started a blog site www.pofunite.blogspot.com I use this as another tool for keeping port employees informed.

What do I plan to bring to the role of shop steward?

I aim to have a good working relationship with both management and workforce. I will continue to keep all divisions up to date on union and Health & safety matters through visiting the mess room and keeping the blog up to date.

I will carry on being honest and open, if I can’t answer your questions straight away I will do my best to get back to you.

I intend to bring the union at the Port of Felixstowe into the 21st century with the aid of my blogsite and email contact with the workforce.


Bringing the union at the Port of Felixstowe into the 21st century.

Box lines face combined loss of $32bn

http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/viewArticle.htm?articleId=20017623897
CONTAINER lines face a combined loss this year of $32bn if conditions remain as they are.
That is the latest projection from Drewry Shipping Consultants in a fast-moving marketplace where forecasts are having to be adjusted almost daily.
Carriers will not be able to make anything like enough cost savings to offset a massive slump in revenue as cargo volumes and freight rates collapse, according to Drewry’s liner shipping director Mark Page.
The firm estimates that container operators’ income could be down by between $65bn and $68bn this year, on a very basic calculation, wiping out the industry’s 2008 operating profit of $8bn when revenie totalled around $220bn. Potential for budget cuts is far less than the possible revenue drop, leaving a gap between the two adjusted figures of some $40bn.
The collapse in freight rates has been sudden and brutal, with eastbound transpacific rates dropping by more than a quarter in the first eight weeks of the year.
The speed of the market collapse has “overwhelmed the carrier community,” he continued, with those lines that have yet to respond likely to “regret not taking radical action sooner.”

What's the union ever done for us?

http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/kuwaiti-port-employees-launch-work-stoppages/20017623395.htm;jsessionid=AE9EFF6E5268243BF26D6E8F506D93F6

Kuwaiti port employees launch work stoppages

SOME 900 employees at the Kuwaiti ports of Shuaiba, Shuwaikh and Doha have launched a series of short stoppages over pay and conditions, after protesting that they have been on the same salary for over three decades.


Now think again!