Uniserve Win the 2011 Bifa European Logistics Award

At this years Bifa Freight Service Awards, Uniserve proudly picked up the Award for the best European Logistics service. To read more about the 2011 Bifa Awards, please go to http://awards.bifa.org/content/awards.aspx.

For further information about this article and any of Uniserve's award winning logistics and supply chain services, please contact us via email; info@ugroup.co.uk; by telephone +44(0) 1375 856060; or online; www.uniservegroup.co.uk.

Uniserve New 250,000 sq ft Warehouse Facility - A London garment processing and e fulfilment centre

As part of Uniserve's commitment to the London Gateway Deep Sea Port, we are in the final stages of acquiring in excess of 250,000 sq ft office and warehouse facilities in the Tilbury Dock/Free Port area. The London Gateway will be the UK's first 21st Century major deep-sea container port and Europe's largest logistics park.

We are uniquely positioned at the forefront of port developments at Felixstowe, London Gateway and Tilbury and are committed to translating the benefits of these activities into value for our customers.

For further information about this article and any of Uniserve's award winning logistics and supply chain services, please contact us via email; info@ugroup.co.uk; by telephone +44(0) 1375 856060; or online; www.uniservegroup.co.uk.

Breaking News! UK Port Closures 2^nd December 2010

Felixstowe Closed! - Emptying exisitng vehicles of export containers that are on quay. Review again at 1600 hrs.

Southampton Closed - Currently close until midday tomorrow.

Thamesport Closed! Currently close until 0800hrs tomorrow.

Tilbury - Closed! Currently close until 0800hrs tomorrow.

For further information, please contact us via email; info@ugroup.co.uk; by telephone +44(0) 1375 856060; or online; www.uniservegroup.co.uk.

Uniserve Nominated For Two 2010 BIFA Awards

Uniserve are proud to have been nominated in the Air Freight and the Environment Award categories.

Winners will be announced for these prestigious and established annual awards, which are now in their 22nd year, at the BIFA Awards Luncheon, to be held at the Brewery in Chiswell Street, London EC1, on the 20^th January 2011.

Uniserve have won many BIFA awards over the last 22 years, most recently in 2009, in both the Air Freight and Sea Freight categories.

Uniserve's nominations this year are for our unique handling of recyclable materials for the retail sector and for the continued development and investment in our unparalleled hanging garment operations and products, ensuring speed to market of fast fashion clothing for our retail clients.

For further information on our award winning logistics and supply chain services, please contact us via email; info@ugroup.co.uk; by telephone +44(0) 1375 856060; or online; www.uniservegroup.co.uk and will be delighted to profile your own model and discuss our services in greater detail.

IFW - Freight Forwarder of the Year Award 2010

Uniserve are delighted to have been selected as finalists for the IFW Freight Forwarder of the Year Award. Uniserve have a long pedigree in this category, from winning the award in its inaugural year in 1996 to our more recent success in 2009.

Our submission that was selected this year was based on our innovative supply chain solutions to the retail sector, delivering unparalleled solutions that were demonstrated through specific case studies.

For further information on our award winning logistics and supply chain services, please contact us via email; info@ugroup.co.uk; by telephone +44(0) 1375 856060; or online; www.uniservegroup.co.uk and will be delighted to profile your own model and discuss our services in greater detail.

Port workers vote in favour of strike

AMWORKERS at Felixstowe Port have voted in favour of industrial action over pay which could potentially cripple work at the site. However, management is hopeful that further talks with the Unite trade union will avert the threat of action over what they have described as a “generous and final” offer.

Members of Unite are understood to have voted decisively in favour of industrial action at the UK's largest container port over their pay claim. No-one from the union was available to comment, but it is understood just over 90% of those who voted backed some form of industrial action while about 85% backed an all-out strike. They have rejected an offer from port owners Hutchison of a 1.5% pay rise and an extra £500 per head. Port spokesman Paul Davey said the offer amounted to about 3% for most of the port workers who were on an average salary of £30,000.He said: “This is a generous and final offer, but we still have further negotiations to have with the union and we hope we can reach agreement over the next few weeks. ”Union officials apparently asked the company for 5% plus a £500 lump sum for each worker to make up for the two days' compulsory unpaid leave workers had to take this year as part of the earlier cuts.After the result of the ballot was told to port workers, one contacted the EADT to say: “We hope the Port of Felixstowe hears the voices of the port workers. ”Discontent has been simmering for some time after the port brought in cost-cutting measures as the amount of work there decreased as trade fell off during the height of the recession in the early months of last year. During the negotiations earlier this year, one port worker said: “The feeling is that the port is very busy at the moment and last year was not as bad as the management thought it would be. “The offer is just not good enough and we want management to see how we feel about it and take our opinions seriously. ”Last year all bonus schemes were scrapped, compulsory unpaid leave brought in, “hot seat” changeover payments axed, canteen subsidies removed, and the port closed on Boxing Day to reduce costs.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - Pending Strike Action

The Public and Civil Services Union, whose Members include HMRC, UKBA, and DEFRA personnel has switched the date of the next national strike from Friday 19th March to Wednesday 24th March, Budget Day. On Friday 19th March there may be some disruption as the union plans to hold mass campaigning days in towns and cities.

HMRC and UKBA implemented largely successful contingency plans during the last industrial action taken on the 8th/9th March, it is anticipated that similar plans will be implemented on the 24th March to minimise the disruption. Currently the movement and control of international freight only requires intervention by UKBA personnel in certain circumstances, for instance Route 2 examinations, Carnet endorsement and other regimes where specific border controls have to be applied.

The NCH will be analysing their staff?s intentions and will do all that is possible to ensure that they have sufficient staff to provide an acceptable service, although there may be some slippage in the target levels for Route 1 clearances. However, as HMRC rely on the UKBA to conduct physical inspections on their behalf some delays are likely on Route 2 clearances and it is something that the NCH are not able to control.