Goodbye Gaybo
by Hazel Gavigan

The front page of The Times reports that Jeremy Corbyn’s aim to introduce a four-day working week would cost the taxpayer at least £17 billion a year because of the impact on the public sector wage bill. However, it appears it'd be worth the investment as Microsoft tested out a four-day work week in its Japan offices and found as a result employees were not only happier – but 40% more productive.

 

In aviation, Ryanair's application to fast-track its legal action against Fórsa over losses it allegedly suffered as a result of a planned strike last summer has been adjourned. This news comes as the airline recently reported a post-tax profit of €1.15 billion for the six months from April to September this year.

 

Elsewhere on the UK front pages, a postal union has been accused of making a “politically calculated” threat to wreck the upcoming general election by refusing to deliver millions of postal votes as part of a dispute over pay and bonuses.

 

Meanwhile closer to home, the head of the National Bus and Rail Union said that Minister for Transport Shane Ross has failed public transport workers “dismally” by not taking adequate steps to ensure people’s safety or following up on his 2017 commitment to hold a forum around transport policies.

 

In Northern Ireland, around 230 striking workers are protesting outside a Co Armagh meat factory over pay and conditions. The dispute at the Goodman-owned plant is being driven by what UNITE the union says is low pay and anti-family hours.

 

Protests elsewhere saw people storm the Dublin City council chamber last night as a vote to approve a controversial housing deal for O’Devaney Gardens was passed.

 

And finally, today's Zen once again pays tribute to the late Gay Byrne - the broadcaster who 'saw Ireland through its adolescence.' RTÉ produced a wonderful piece that looks back over his career but if you don't have a spare 18 minutes to view that right now, here's a shorter video of some conversations had on the Late Late Show that eventually brought the country to where it is today.

 

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