Pay appeal wins few converts

Article Abstract:

The Prime Minister's appeal for pay restraint is unpopular in the private sector according to an Independent newspaper survey of 20 companies. Public sector pay rises will be restricted to 1.5% but private companies would consider performance and competition. They dislike pay restraint for its own sake. Manufacturing industry pay settlements are 4.3% and pay freezes are common. Banking and retail, the biggest employers in Britain, are unlikely to have generous settlements but they would be determined by market forces.

United Kingdom, Employment, Private sector, Wages, Wages and salaries, Merit pay

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Homes plug in for power competition

Article Abstract:

The UK's domestic electricity market has been opened up to competition, with 750,000 households in four regions now being permitted to choose their supplier. It is anticipated that initially only 10,000 customers will move to a new supplier. However, full competition will be in operation by Jun 1999. The effectiveness of competition and the number of customers who move supplier will be determined by the extent to which charges decline. Swalec believes that around 10% of households will change supplier.

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities, Electric Utility Regulatn NEC, Laws, regulations and rules, Electric utilities, Utility regulations

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Alsthom set for 4bn pounds sterling float in GEC shake-up

Article Abstract:

GEC Alsthom, a power engineering operation which is jointly owned by GEC and French electronics concern Alcatel, is to be floated. GEC plans to focus on three businesses headed by defence electronics, and will use takeovers and mergers to boost the position of Marconi. It will sell off large parts of its UK industrial division, including the GPS semiconductor business. The flotation of GEC Alsthom, which will take the form of a demerger, will value the company at around 4 billion pounds sterling.

Electric Distribution Equipment, Electric Power Equipment, Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing, Management, Planning, Electric equipment, Industrial equipment and supplies industry, Industrial equipment industry, Military electronics industry, General Electric Company PLC, GEC Alsthom

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