Top stories in the papers this week 10 – 17 June 2011
Retail sector voluntary code of practice appears unlikely; IBEC heads for Europe in bid to dismantle JLC structure; Petrol stations forced to close over night pay
Print16 June 2011
1. Retail sector voluntary code of practice appears unlikely
It is very unlikely a voluntary code of practice will be agreed for the grocery sector, due to the wide disparity of views amongst stakeholders. The Irish Examiner reports this is the conclusion of a facilitator appointed to explore its possibility, according to Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton. He added the Government wants to ensure there is balance in the relationship between the various players in the grocery sector.
2. IBEC heads for Europe in bid to dismantle JLC structure
Representatives of employers group IBEC have met the EC officials that are dealing with the terms of Ireland’s loan agreement to win their support to dismantle the JLC wage agreements system. The Irish Examiner reveals IBEC made the trip to Europe ahead of the government releasing its JLC proposals later this month. The group believes Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton’s plans to reform but not abolish the system don’t go far enough.
3. Petrol stations forced to close over night pay
Petrol stations are being forced to close at night because they can’t afford to pay staff double time, the Irish Independent reports. Motorists who want to fill up their car or get coffee at 6am are finding stations closed because the JLC system requires them to pay up to twice as much between midnight and 7am, said Topaz marketing director Paul Candon, who notes wages of over €19 an hour are too costly for many retailers.
4. Graffiti to be wiped clean by offenders
Teams of people who have been sentenced to community service will clean graffiti from city centre buildings in Cork, in the first project of its kind in the country. The Irish Examiner writes that the Cork Business Association (CBA), the Probation Service and Cork City Council will offer the free service to city traders and retailers for the first time, with the scheme previously working well in local authority housing estates.
5. Tesco: Fuel cost hits supermarket spending
In one of Tesco Ireland’s worst financial results in recent quarters, the Irish arm of the retailing giant recorded a 3.9% fall in sales in its first financial quarter. Meanwhile, over in the UK, Tesco said the rising cost of petrol is forcing consumers to cut back on supermarket spending. The Evening Echo reports that it posted a 0.1% drop in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to May 28, a slight improvement on the 0.7% fall in the previous quarter but short of City hopes.
Also:
Jim Barry named Cork Business Person of the Year (Business and Leadership)
Tesco opponents win day in court (Guardian)
-Planning permission review announced over Bristol store at centre of rioting
Huge cigarettes seizure in the Port of Cork (96 FM)
Merrion Road Kiosk goes on the market (Irish Independent)
Sainsbury’s quarterly sales growth outstrips Tesco (Guardian)
US stocks rise on back of retail boost (Irish Examiner)
Ulster Bank buys The Outlet (Belfast Telegraph)
-Big drop in cross-border shoppers hits £70m Banbridge retail centre
Tesco misses sales forecasts (Irish Times)
Removal of upward-only rent clause (Irish Times)
– Letter from Bill Nowlan of WK Nowlan and Associates, Property Asset Managers
Removal of upward-only rent clause (Irish Times)
– Letter from Thomas Jackson, Secretary, Hickey Co Ltd
Consumers being charged 60% more for buying ‘green’ (Irish Independent)
Retail sales figures reveals depths of consumer slump (Guardian)
Tesco sales hit by poor results at non-food division (Guardian)
Meet the meat industry at Tullamore’s livestock show (Irish Examiner)
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