Latest news with #WendyHudson
Daily Mail
02-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Snooty Nantucket residents outraged over new chain store opened on ritzy billionaire's island
Snooty Nantucket residents furious over the arrival of a chain store on their ritzy island are demanding its closure. Roller Rabbit, a pricey, high-end sleepwear brand with a dozen locations nationwide, opened its latest shop earlier this year, right in the heart of Nantucket's upscale downtown, according to Nantucket Current. But its arrival has sparked a ferocious backlash, as it directly violates the island's fiercely defended ban on franchises in the downtown area. Despite being ordered to 'immediately cease all business activity' on the affluent Massachusetts island, the boutique defiantly kept its doors open - making subtle changes in a bid to dodge the ban. The ban - officially called the Formula Business Restriction - is a town bylaw designed to preserve Nantucket's historic charm and shield local businesses from being drowned out by national and international retail chains. 'The proliferation of formula businesses will have a negative impact on the island's economy, historical relevance and unique character and economic vitality,' Nantucket Book Partners owner Wendy Hudson told the outlet. 'These uses are therefore prohibited in order to maintain a unique retail and dining experience. 'Formula businesses frustrate this goal by detracting from the overall historic island experience and threatening its tourist economy.' The ban - officially called the Formula Business Restriction - is a town bylaw designed to preserve Nantucket's historic downtown charm and shield local businesses from being drowned out by national and international retail chains Ritzy residents overwhelmingly supported the ban nearly a decade ago, worried that recognizable stores would erode the island's independent vibe and turn it into a cookie-cutter shopping destination. Building Commissioner Paul Murphy issued Roller Rabbit a cease-and-desist order in July, marking the first-ever enforcement of the ban. 'The overlay district does not allow standardized businesses in the historic downtown area,' Murphy wrote to the boutique's owners, as reported by Nantucket Current. 'Roller Rabbit meets the definition of a formula business. You are hereby ordered to immediately cease all business activity at this location.' The order stated that the shop met all the criteria to be considered a formula business - having ten or more locations worldwide and standardized elements like a common name, logo or product line. Determined to stay on the billionaire's oasis, Roller Rabbit quickly jumped through hoops to skirt to rules - changing its name and revamping the store's offerings. Now rebranded as The General Store by RR, the boutique has expanded its inventory to include brands like Lands' End, Dempsey & Carroll, Minnow and Long Wharf Supply Co. 'We've evolved our Centre Street seasonal pop-up into a new multi-brand concept,' Roller Rabbit Chief Marketing Officer Carolyn Phillips told the Current via email. 'This reimagined space features a curated selection of products not only from Roller Rabbit, but also from beloved brands that align with the spirit and lifestyle of Nantucket,' she added. Nantucket Planning and Land Use Services (PLUS) director Leslie Snell said the ban does not apply to pop-ups, which is what Roller Rabbit now claims to be. 'The formula business bylaw applies to any business within the overlay district regardless of duration,' she told the outlet. However, the PLUS team doesn't routinely screen every new business for chain store compliance, they only step in when a business asks for a review, leaving enforcement largely driven by self-reporting or complaints. 'No town permits are required for retail stores, so there isn't an opportunity for advance review,' Snell added. 'We review for compliance based on complaints or our own observations.' Roller Rabbit is known for its high-end women's sleepwear, often distinguished by whimsical prints - monkeys, florals and vibrant color palettes being just a few. Shoppers can expect Roller Rabbit pajamas priced from approximately $128 to $148 or more, according to the website. Each set is crafted in small batches from luxe Pima cotton and adorned with artisanal touches like block prints and embroidery. While critics balk at the steep prices, loyal fans point to the heirloom quality and distinctive designs as justification for the splurge - though it remains to be seen how many new customers will be secured on Nantucket.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Hundreds of care staff to go on strike over £38m SNP U-turn
It will be the first national walkout in more than a decade, beginning in East Renfrewshire and continuing in Aberdeenshire, Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Trade union Unison said the decision to go on strike was in response to a U turn on a pledge of £38m of extra funding by ministers made in 2021 after it agreed to improve pay and conditions in the sector. Wendy Hudson, Unison social care organiser, told The Herald: 'Social care workers have suffered a catalogue of broken promises by the Scottish Government. Since the pandemic their pay has got worse, and the service is in crisis. READ MORE: SNP to end 'hunger and homelessness' in human rights bill after Highlands report Former justice secretary urges MSPs to back Regan's prostitution crackdown bill Are we about to see a 'summer of discontent' hit the Edinburgh festivals again? "The £38m pledged by the Scottish Government four years ago should have gone into care workers pay packets - to improve their pay, sick pay and maternity leave. Instead this money has been taken back." She warned that workers for other care providers would also go on strike unless the Scottish Government acted. "Enable is one of the better employers. Thousands of care workers across Scotland only get paid the Scottish Living Wage and basic statutory sick pay," she said. The workers who will go on strike are members of the trade union Unison (Image: Jamie Simpson) "Care workers in Scotland have run out of patience. This strike at Enable is the first for many years and others will follow unless the Scottish Government fund the sector properly.' A briefing document by Unison passed to The Herald said that a freedom of information request by the union in October 2023 found that funds allocated to "Fair Work in Social Care" to improve terms and conditions for staff had been moved to another part of the budget. "Approximately £38m originally assigned to Fair Work in 2022/23 is re-prioritised accordingly within the health and social care portfolio - which had been allocated to change conditions of employment such as maternity, paternity and sick pay," it said. Responding to Unison's freedom of information request at the time the Scottish Government confirmed the £38m promised in 2021 had been moved elsewhere to the health and social care budget "as changing conditions of employment" was a matter which came under the UK Government's control. READ MORE: Care workers at Scottish charity vote for walk out over pay conditions Social care workers in charity sector to vote on strike action Ministers to consider writing off domestic abuse victims' council tax debt "Work through the Fair Work in Social Care Group in 2021 developed a minimum terms and conditions framework for the Adult Social Care commissioned services workforce reflecting Fair Work principles. This work is being taken forward in collaboration with key stakeholders on a phased approach," it said. "The initial phase of exploratory work identified a question of legislative competence around delivery, specifically as employment law, including changing conditions of employment (such as maternity/paternity leave and sick pay), is reserved to the UK Government. "Working through these issues has taken longer than originally anticipated, as alternate routes of delivery that are within the devolved powers of Scottish Ministers needed to be explored. "One possible contractual route for implementation has been identified and work continues with this. This has meant that implementation of the first of the recommendations is likely to begin in the 2023-24 financial year, with £38 million originally assigned to this in 2022-23 re prioritised accordingly within the Health and Social Care Portfolio." Anna Baird, a Unison member and a personal assistant with Enable Scotland for eight years, said: "I love my job and the people I support, that's why this decision was so hard. But we're at breaking point. We've been made promises for years, but nothing changes. "Our pay doesn't reflect the responsibility we carry and many of us are struggling to make ends meet. We're just asking to be valued for the vital work we do." Unison Scotland regional organiser Jennifer McCarey said "not a single promise" had been kept by ministers and that care workers pay pay was now worse. In April this year, social care worker pay was increased to £12.60 in line with the Scottish Living Wage. Unison has listed the dates of the strikes as follows: May 29 – East Renfrewshire; June 3 Aberdeenshire and Moray; June 6 Ayrshire; June 10 North Lanarkshire/Central services staff; and June 12 Edinburgh and Glasgow. The strikes will conclude with a march and rally at the Scottish Parliament on 12 June. To protect those most at risk, Unison has agreed "life and limb" cover with the employer for during the strike. Minister for Social Care Maree Todd said: 'We are committed to delivering fair work and improving the experience of workers in the social care sector. 'Clearly funding is a challenge in the current financial climate and the UK Government's recent decisions to hit the sector with a double whammy of increases in employer National Insurance Contribution payments, coupled with plans to end international recruitment will be devastating for the care sector. "That is why the Scottish Government has called on the UK Government to reverse this proposal. "The Scottish Government has committed to enabling the payment of the Real Living Wage to all workers delivering commissioned services since 2016. "This means Scottish care workers are amongst the best paid in the UK. For the 2025-26 financial year, we will be investing an additional £125 million to support pay, taking the estimated total investment in this policy to £950 million. 'Improving wider terms and conditions for the social care workforce remains a priority, and we are continuing to work with providers and trade unions to make progress on the issues identified through our Fair Work in Social Care Group. While this will be dependent on resolving budget pressures, progress on Sectoral Bargaining and our ongoing engagement with the UK Government on the Employment Rights Bill will also help drive improvements in pay, terms and conditions.' An Enable spokeswoman said: 'Enable is disappointed by the decision to strike, but we are working positively with Unison on our shared principle of minimising the adverse impact of this action on the people we support. "Significantly enhanced pay beyond the real living wage is entirely dependent on external funding. "Enable has worked with Unison to advance Fair Work across the social care sector for a number of years, and we would welcome a national pay settlement for the charity sector social care workforce which is on a par with pay deals for care workers in the public sector.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Care workers ‘not paid enough to live on' says union as charity faces walkout
Workers at a Scottish care charity have voted to walk out in a dispute over pay, with a union saying care workers are 'not paid enough to live on'. The announcement comes after members of Unison Scotland at the care charity Enable Scotland were balloted on strike action. The union, which represents about 600 workers at the charity, said the walkout was backed by 93% of those who voted. It added that it is the first time for more than a decade that staff in the charitable sector have voted for strike action. Unison Scotland area organiser Wendy Hudson said: 'Care workers, who look after some of the most vulnerable people in society, are struggling to make ends meet because they're not paid enough to live on. 'Five years on from the first Covid lockdown, the care workforce shouldn't be left with no option other than to strike for a fair wage. 'More value must be placed on the work care staff do. 'Enable Scotland is one of the better employers in the care sector. But without proper funding from the Scottish Government, care workers will continue to be let down. Ministers must fund charitable care properly and act to resolve this issue.' The charity's regional organiser, Jennifer McCarey, said the care sector was in 'crisis', and called on care staff to be allowed to negotiate their pay at a national level with government. 'The recruitment crisis in social care won't end until care workers are valued for the vital work they do and given the fair pay they deserve,' she added. Care worker and Unison steward, Kim O'Donnell, said: 'Every care worker in Scotland was let down by the Edinburgh government when it withdrew promised funding that deepened the crisis in the care sector. 'This vote from Enable Scotland reflects how undervalued care workers feel. They want to be respected for the work they do and paid a decent wage.' Social Care Minister Maree Todd said: 'I am aware of the pay dispute between Unison and Enable. 'Pay negotiations are a matter for trade unions and employers but I urge both parties to continue to work together constructively to reach an agreement which is fair for the workforce and affordable for Enable and avoids disruption for those who rely on care.' Enable Scotland has been approached for comment.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Care workers ‘not paid enough to live on' says union as charity faces walkout
Workers at a Scottish care charity have voted to walk out in a dispute over pay, with a union saying care workers are 'not paid enough to live on'. The announcement comes after members of Unison Scotland at the care charity Enable Scotland were balloted on strike action. The union, which represents about 600 workers at the charity, said the walkout was backed by 93% of those who voted. It added that it is the first time for more than a decade that staff in the charitable sector have voted for strike action. Unison Scotland area organiser Wendy Hudson said: 'Care workers, who look after some of the most vulnerable people in society, are struggling to make ends meet because they're not paid enough to live on. 'Five years on from the first Covid lockdown, the care workforce shouldn't be left with no option other than to strike for a fair wage. 'More value must be placed on the work care staff do. 'Enable Scotland is one of the better employers in the care sector. But without proper funding from the Scottish Government, care workers will continue to be let down. Ministers must fund charitable care properly and act to resolve this issue.' The charity's regional organiser, Jennifer McCarey, said the care sector was in 'crisis', and called on care staff to be allowed to negotiate their pay at a national level with government. 'The recruitment crisis in social care won't end until care workers are valued for the vital work they do and given the fair pay they deserve,' she added. Care worker and Unison steward, Kim O'Donnell, said: 'Every care worker in Scotland was let down by the Edinburgh government when it withdrew promised funding that deepened the crisis in the care sector. 'This vote from Enable Scotland reflects how undervalued care workers feel. They want to be respected for the work they do and paid a decent wage.' Enable Scotland has been approached for comment.
