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No Wales team as strike talks continue

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WALES rugby coach Warren Gatland delayed naming his side to face England on Tuesday (Feb 21), with the threat of a players’ strike still hanging over the fixture.
The news of the delay broke just minutes before the scheduled team announcement at midday. However, a press conference with Warren Gatland was scheduled after the postponed announcement at 12:30. That took place,and the Welsh coach offered a candid view of the issues affecting players.
Although Warren Gatland said he did not regret returning to Wales, he observed he wished he’d had a fuller picture of the Welsh game’s state beforehand.
The New Zealander confirmed he knew nothing about the players’ concerns and the situation regarding their contracts until after the Scotland game and was not told about them by the WRU when he agreed to return as Wales coach.
As things stand, more than seventy players contracted to the current Welsh regions will be out of contract by June. Those players have no guarantee they will be re-engaged, even on financially worse terms, and cannot negotiate with clubs outside Wales to secure their playing futures and incomes.
However, the Welsh coach said money is not at the top of the players’ grievances: “The players have said it’s not about money. I’m well aware the regions have been living outside of their means a little and that will be addressed.”
The New Zealander, who last week suggested that the same situation in his home country would be resolved by a meeting between all parties being locked in a room until they resolved their difficulties, added: “I think players have been given assurances that things will be sorted out, but unfortunately they haven’t. It finally came to a head. I think we’re all asking for things to get sorted.”
While the players insist their voice must be heard on the Professional Rugby Board, the best the Board has come up with is an invitation to the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association head to sit in on their meetings, subject to an invitation.
While it might be well-meant, that olive branch is unlikely to soothe players’ wish to have a say in decisions that affect them and their welfare.
Warren Gatland added: “What the players were asking for is reasonable. You have to find some middle ground. Hopefully the discussions today find something that everyone is happy with. It’s not always one side winning. It’s about finding some compromise.”
However, he was under no illusion about the strike threat, saying: “It is genuine, no doubt about that. But having spoken to a few people today, I’m fairly confident it will be resolved.”
Asked point blank if he had a contingency plan if all or part of the squad went on strike, Gatland’s one-word answer said more than any amount of waffle about “securing the future of the game”.
It was: “No.”
However, he added: “I don’t think there’ll be any lack of motivation for playing England. They’re off today and then they’ll come back fired up on Thursday.”

Business

Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire

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FREIGHT carrier and ferry operator Stena Line, which runs services between Fishguard and Pembroke Dock, has announced plans to cut up to 80 staff members following an internal review.

Uncertainty looms over whether any of these redundancies will impact staff operating our local ferry services.

Stena CEO Paul Grant shared the news in an email to employees on Monday, citing a need to “future proof the company.” He explained that an internal assessment revealed the company’s current organisational structure as “too big and expensive” compared to its revenue.

The decision comes amid rising costs and increased competition in the freight and travel sectors.

According to Mr. Grant, “Cost pressure due to higher inflation has led to our customers having less money to spend, and with the introduction of the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), increasing our prices, we see a decline in volumes for both travel and freight.” Additionally, disappointing sales during the summer season and unmet market growth expectations for 2024 contributed to the restructuring.

The program, designed to strengthen Stena’s long-term business viability, includes a reduction of costs, prioritization of investments, and staff cuts that will primarily impact support functions and consultants. The workforce will be reduced by 80 positions by early 2025, along with 30 consultants also set to leave the company. Discussions with unions and work councils are expected to last several months, with all affected staff to be informed of their status by January 31, 2025.

In response to this announcement, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has demanded a meeting with Stena Line to clarify the impact of these cuts, particularly on their members.

TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust expressed disappointment over the handling of the announcement, stating: “Our members are shocked by this news and outraged that Stena has chosen to sidestep established industrial relations processes. Stena must meet with us urgently to clarify who is at risk and address the potential impacts on our members.”

The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at securing Stena Line’s future amid sustainability challenges. CEO Niclas Mårtensson acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “Stena Line has been a successful company over the past few years; however, we need to ensure a lower cost base to be able to future proof the company. With 40 vessels in Europe and the Mediterranean, we have significant sustainability challenges ahead of us, and this program will enable us to make necessary investments for the future.”

The TSSA’s letter to Stena reiterates the union’s commitment to supporting affected employees and calls for an immediate discussion to clarify the situation, especially for staff at Fishguard who may be impacted.

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UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner

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FOR the first time, the UK government will appoint a Crown Estate Commissioner dedicated to advising on matters in Wales, further integrating Welsh interests in board-level decisions. This move supports existing efforts to ensure that Wales benefits from the push for clean energy, following an agreement facilitated by the Welsh Secretary.

An amendment to the Crown Estate Bill, with cross-party backing from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats, and crossbenchers, will be accepted at today’s Lords Report Stage (Nov 5). This change mandates the appointment of a Wales-specific Commissioner through the Public Appointments process, with input from the Welsh Government. The appointee will bear “an additional responsibility” to represent Welsh conditions and interests, amplifying Wales’s voice within the Crown Estate.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has collaborated with the Treasury, The Crown Estate, House of Lords members, and the Welsh Government to secure this legislative advancement. The Crown Estate, instrumental in drawing international investment to Wales, supports projects like Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea, which promises cleaner energy and job creation.

The introduction of a Wales-specific Commissioner strengthens The Crown Estate’s mission to serve the entire UK while averting potential market fragmentation and protecting international investor confidence critical to the net-zero transition.

In a related effort, Great British Energy, the government’s new public energy firm, recently partnered with The Crown Estate to expedite renewable energy advancements. This initiative could attract up to £60bn in private investment, boosting the UK’s journey toward energy independence.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens stated: “This is a landmark step toward ensuring that Welsh prosperity is at the heart of the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower. Our nation stands to benefit hugely from investment in floating offshore wind, and we now have the representation we need to help seize that moment. This demonstrates how Wales benefits directly from its two governments working together, and I’m grateful to Lord Livermore, The Crown Estate, and others for helping to make this happen.”

Sir Robin Budenberg CBE, Chair of The Crown Estate, said: “In seeking to increase the number of Commissioners from eight to twelve, The Crown Estate welcomes the opportunity now presented by this amendment to bring even more direct knowledge and understanding of the areas in which we operate and further strengthen our ability to deliver benefit to the whole of the UK.”

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Crime

Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock

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POLICE in Pembroke Dock have uncovered yet another large-scale cannabis operation, as part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal farms in the area. On Monday (Nov 4), Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at a property on Dimond Street, where officers found over 500 cannabis plants in a sophisticated cultivation setup.

Two men, aged 26 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. The raid follows a series of similar operations in Pembrokeshire, targeting properties used for illegal drug cultivation.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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