HEADLINES

• Imperial Tobacco workers threaten strike over parking levy
• Health groups in Cumbria welcome Welsh government's stance on smoking in cars
• Australia says it has right to restrict tobacco packaging

• Imperial Tobacco workers threaten strike over parking levy

  Workers at Imperial Tobacco are considering industrial action after being told they will have to pay towards a Workplace Parking Levy.

  Union chiefs are set to ballot members at Nottingham's Imperial Tobacco factory over strike action unless the company changes its decision to make workers pay for parking.

   

  In a recent consultative ballot, Unite and GMB members voted 75.6 per cent in favour of moving to a strike action ballot.

  
  Unite regional officer Luke Primarolo said: "We now see this mega-rich multinational tobacco company refusing to pay this parking levy and it is instead looking at ways to pass some of it on to its workers – this is totally unacceptable to our members."
  Source: ThisisNottingham, 08 February 2012
  Link: http://bit.ly/z441EI

• Health groups in Cumbria welcome Welsh government's stance on smoking in cars

  Public health bosses in Cumbria have reiterated their stance against smoking in cars after the Welsh government said it could consider a ban.

  The Welsh Assembly recently launched a campaign aiming to protect children from the effects of second-hand smoke, and said it would introduce a ban if it is not successful within the next three years.

  The Cumbria Tobacco Alliance has welcomed the efforts of the Welsh Assembly. A survey carried out by the Alliance last year found that 73% of people in Cumbria would support a ban.
  Source: North West Evening News, 07 February 2012
  Link: http://bit.ly/w5tPgb

• Australia says it has right to restrict tobacco packaging

  In a defence filing with the High Court of Australia, the Australian government has filed its defence in a legal battle with Philip Morris and argues that it has the legal right to enforce plain packaging on the tobacco industry.

  "The Commonwealth will vigorously defend the validity of the plain packaging laws and does not accept there is any basis for big tobacco's claims that the measures are unconstitutional," said Attorney General Nicola Roxon.
  Source: Fox Busness, 08 February 2012
  Link: http://fxn.ws/wpNKw9