Mountains of rubbish STILL litter Birmingham pavements six months into bin strike
Locals say their
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Mountains of rubbish littered the pavements in Birmingham yesterday — six months into the city's unprecedented bin strike
Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Locals say their lives have been made a misery by the foul smells
Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
Bethany Campbell, 22, of Selly Oak, said: 'The place stinks, it looks atrocious and residents just feel they are being forgotten about.
'Nobody should live like this in modern Britain.'
The Unite union began
They have a mandate until December.
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Union boss Sharon Graham vowed to remain 'relentless' to get a deal.
The council is running contingency arrangements and is still negotiating.
A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: "The council recognises the significant impact that
"The council is grateful for the community groups who are working to clear waste and helping their fellow residents during this challenging time.
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"The council remains committed to resolving the industrial action in the best interest of all parties involved."
Birmingham's rat problem will get worse before it gets better says 'The Verminator' taking on rodents in UK 'third world city'
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The Unite union began the strikes in January after pay cuts
Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
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The council is running contingency arrangements and is still negotiating a deal
Credit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Irish Times
24-07-2025
- Irish Times
I've seen men watch porn in my workplaces. I reported it and was called ‘a prude'
The age of the topless Page Three girl in newspapers, and calendars featuring naked women in workplaces, is long gone but has been replaced by some men and boys openly viewing online pornography at work or on public transport. Last week it was revealed that more than 28 per cent of women in the UK have been shown pornography at work by a manager, colleague or customer. The union Unite , which surveyed 300,000 women in 19 different sectors, said that construction, aviation, transport, food and drink, farming, trucking, warehousing and logistics all suffered from significant rates of harassment. We're not immune from this behaviour in Ireland and it's not limited to certain sectors either. Over the last 20 years a banking chief executive was dismissed for viewing escort services at work. Also, two media employees were dismissed by their employers for having child sexual abuse imagery in their possession. Personally, I've witnessed several men watching porn in my workplaces – with the knowledge of senior management – as well as experiencing this on a plane and the Dart. When I reported it to a senior manager at work he laughed and said: 'Don't be such a prude.' READ MORE Sadly, such attitudes persist. A quick scan of Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) decisions involving pornography shows similar managerial reactions in some cases and the dismissal of employees and managers who viewed, disseminated or condoned the viewing of pornographic images in others. Complainants were awarded damages of up to €40,000. The daily commute is another hotspot for public porn, with passengers unwillingly subjected to it on buses, trains and planes. According to news reports from all over the State, some male passengers watch porn on their mobiles or computers, often without headphones, so anyone nearby is either forced to confront them or witness it too. Not the best way to start or end your work day. What is the impact of this behaviour on women and men in the workplace and how can employers address it? What should you and your employer do if a colleague is watching pornography at work? Employers have an obligation to provide a safe environment for their workers and this includes freedom from sexual harassment, intimidation and bullying. A workplace that allows, or chooses to ignore, these behaviours is putting itself at great risk legally, culturally, financially and reputationally. [ Men who watch pornography have poorer wellbeing, ESRI study finds Opens in new window ] Openly viewing pornography at work may be considered sexual harassment and a form of discrimination, making it illegal in the workplace under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004. Additionally, the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 strengthens the laws against harassment, including sexual harassment, both online and offline. Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted words or physical actions of a sexual nature which deliberately or unintentionally violate your dignity, make you feel degraded and create an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or offensive environment for you. The unwanted actions may either deliberately aim to violate your dignity or unintentionally have that effect. David McWilliams on how 'big incentives' to build could save Dublin city Listen | 36:51 Employers may be held legally responsible for workplace harassment, even though they did not personally carry it out. This is called 'vicarious liability'. It applies where an employer has some control over what happens at the workplace, even if they do not directly employ the person who harassed you. Sexual harassment has a corrosive impact on workplace attitudes, behaviours and culture and creates a disconnect between women and men who work together. It's also bad for business. The workplace is a reflection of society, both positive and negative, and employers need to recognise how current trends impact on their culture. Research in the Journal of Business Ethics by NW Mecham found that pornography has permeated the work environment. Regular exposure to pornography increases the likelihood of impulsive or risky behaviour, according to the study. 'Consuming pornography causes individuals to be less ethical. We find that this relationship is mediated by increased moral disengagement from and dehumanisation of others due to viewing pornography. Combined, our results suggest that choosing to consume pornography causes individuals to behave less ethically.' [ What are the new online safety regulations that Big Tech is unhappy about – and will they work? Opens in new window ] 'Because unethical employee behaviour has been linked to numerous negative organisation outcomes including fraud, collusion and other self-serving behaviours, our results have implications for most societal organisations.' Irish and international research has found that mainstream pornography does not just depict consensual sex between adults, it promotes violence. Facing Reality: Addressing the Role of Pornography in the Pandemic of Violence against Women and Girls by the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy (SERP) Institute says 'there is an urgent need to comprehend and address pornography for what it truly is – the sexual violence, torture and degradation of real women and girls on film.' 'Scholars have argued that as pornography has become increasingly normalised and socially conceptualised as 'sexually explicit material', in fact contemporary pornography does not depict 'sex' in itself, but rather sexual violence masquerading as 'sex'.' 'Amongst men, higher pornography consumption has been found to be associated with views and attitudes towards women that amount to 'hostile sexism',' the report continues. 'A detailed review of studies on men's attitudes and behaviours found a significant positive association between the consumption of violent pornography and attitudes supporting violence against women.' What does all this mean for workplace culture? Businesses cannot afford to ignore the impact of the 'normalisation' and pervasiveness of porn. It is training men and boys to dehumanise half the population and signalling to women and girls that they are less valued than men at work. Regular pornography viewers tend to think negatively about women – or see them primarily as sex objects – so they're unlikely to want to work on an equal footing with them, or to help support women colleagues or promote them to managerial roles. Dehumanising co-workers in this way might also lead to sexual harassment or contribute to a hostile work environment, which not only decreases organisational productivity but might spark expensive litigation, according to Mecham's research. [ Pornography website access could be restricted by passports under new proposals Opens in new window ] In addition, these attitudes can impact on customer relationships and retention levels. 'Dehumanisation may adversely impact an organisation's ability to attract, develop and retain talented women employees, especially when people in leadership positions are using pornography and aggressively engaging in dehumanising behaviour.' It's often said that workplace culture is dictated by the worst behaviour we allow. Businesses and organisations cannot divorce themselves from what's happening in wider society and they are required to take steps to protect workers from harm, no matter what form it takes. Under Irish law, 'Employers must have comprehensive, accessible, effective polices that focus on prevention, best practice and remedial action. They must also have an accessible complaints procedure,' according to the Code of Practice on Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Employers are also required to take action if they become aware of an issue even if no complaint is filed. The existence of a policy document is not enough. 'Employers will not be able to rely on an excellent policy document if it is not implemented.' So, the next time you hear about someone viewing pornography at work or on public transport, don't just laugh it off, report it. Margaret E Ward is chief executive of Clear Eye, a leadership consultancy. margaret@
The Irish Sun
22-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Incredible pictures show moment seagull SHATTERS cockpit of £73MILLION warplane
A WARPLANE strikes a seagull at an airshow display — shattering the cockpit canopy. Incredibly the pilot was unharmed and able to land the £73million 4 The seagull can be seen to the right of the £73million Eurofighter as it flies above an airbase in Spain Credit: SWNS 4 The exact moment of impact is caught by the photographer, as a huge cloud of debris erupts from the fighter's cockpit canopy Credit: SWNS 4 Despite the huge hole in the canopy, the hero pilot managed to safely land the Eurofighter jet Credit: SWNS A photographer captured the split-second strike over the San Javier Air Base in Murcia, Spain, on June 15. But snapper Javier Alonso de Medina Salguero said he realised what had happened only after checking his photos. They show the gull swooping into the path of the jet, before the bird is hit and A huge cloud of debris can then be seen exploding out from the pilot's cockpit area READ MORE WORLD NEWS Javier added: "I was at the base in the San Javier area, at the site where they took us photographers. 'We were watching the Eurofighter display when we saw it leave without finishing. "They reported over the radio it hit a seagull. "I had the whole sequence.' Most read in The Sun 4 The gaping hole in the cockpit canopy is clear to see as the pilot attempts to land the fighter Credit: SWNS Red Arrow forced to make emergency landing as bird strike smashes canopy mid display
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Hero off-duty firefighter rushed to save kids when school trip bus overturned leaving 2 dead & 21 injured
A HEROIC off-duty firefighter who was driving behind a school bus that tragically crashed yesterday immediately rushed to help. One child sadly died and two others were rushed to hospital after the coach veered off the road and slid down a 20ft bank. 7 Emergency crews rescued passengers from the bus following a crash Credit: SWNS 7 A large section of the A396 in Somerset was closed off while teams dealt with the scene Credit: BPM Media 7 Five helicopters were deployed to help the major rescue operation Credit: SWNS 7 Some 21 casualties were taken to hospital by land and air after the accident. The bus came off the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Timbercombe in Somerset shortly before 3pm yesterday. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to rescue trapped passengers. It later emerged that a heroic off-duty firefighter was travelling behind the coach and was able to start freeing passengers straight away. Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We were mobilised to a major incident to a coach that had overturned onto its roof and slip approximately 20ft (6.1m) down an embankment. "I'm grateful to the off-duty firefighter who was travelling behind the coach at the point of the collision who was able to start taking immediate [action] to start releasing those casualties from the bus." He added: "Our crews carried out a number of extrications and rescues in extremely difficult circumstances, and he also supported our ambulance colleagues with casualty treatment. "This was a very complex and technically difficult incident for our crews to deal with, and I'm grateful for the tireless effort and actions of the crews in doing everything they could for those who were trapped as quickly as safely as possible." Most read in The Sun Two people were left seriously injured following the crash, which saw the coach filled with pupils from Minehead Middle School leave the road. It is thought that the year five pupils were returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo in nearby Devon. Minehead Middle School's website states that pupils in that year group (aged nine to 10) were due to visit the zoo as part of the school's "Enrichment Week" activities. Three helicopters, deployed by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Devon Air Ambulance, joined police air crews. Some casualties were then taken by air ambulance to hospital in Bristol. Gavin Ellis, the chief fire officer for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the coach "overturned onto its roof and slid approximately 20ft down an embankment". In a press conference outside Minehead Middle School, cops confirmed that they were called at 2.58pm to the "very complex and technically difficult scene". Parents - who had been summoned to the school by police - were seen visibly upset as they waited outside the building. Police confirmed that 21 casualties had been rushed to hospital, although the "large majority of passengers" were taken to a rest centre in Wheddon Cross. Eight fire engines, two specialist rescue appliances and around 60 firefighters were deployed to the scene. South Western Ambulance Service deployed 20 double crewed ambulances, three air ambulances, a command team and two hazardous area response teams. Cops estimate around 60 to 70 people were onboard the coach when it left the road. Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute after the tragic death of the child, saying: "A heartbreaking update on the school bus crash in Somerset. "There are no adequate words to acknowledge the death of a child. Read more on the Irish Sun "All my thoughts are with their parents, family and friends, and all those affected. "Thank you to the emergency workers who are responding at pace — I'm being kept up to date on this situation." 7 Police on guard outside Minehead Middle School Credit: SWNS 7 Emergency crews have been spotted around the scene of the crash Credit: SWNS 7 The road remains closed after 21 casualties were rushed to hospital Credit: SWNS
