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Union warns over Transport for London executive pay

RMT union says members unlikely to accept pay restraint after nearly 400 managers took home six-figure salaries last year London mayor Boris Johnson has been pulled into the public sector pay row after it emerged that nearly 400 staff at Transport for London earned more than £100,000 last year. The number of TfL employees taking home a six-figure salary rose from 251 to 379, although the London mayor’s transport authority pleaded exceptional circumstances for the increase. TfL said the number of top earners was boosted by severance payouts to 84 staff, as well as 68 employees who joined TfL’s payroll after the takeover of Tube Lines, the last remaining public-private partnership contractor. A further 31 six-figure employees were employed by Crossrail, the £16bn project to build a new rail line under the capital. TfL said the number of high earners within its main operations of the London Underground, the bus network and the congestion charge, had risen by just two to 196 people. Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT trade union, said members would not accept warnings of a need for financial austerity if hundreds of senior figures are earning six-figure salaries. “We will take no lectures on pay restraint and job cuts while the top layers of TfL are so clearly awash with cash. It is RMT members who are out there day in and day out delivering the success for the company and we expect them to have both the resources and the rewards that they deserve for transporting growing numbers of people around this city as the clock ticks down towards the London Olympics.” Bonuses for TfL’s senior officers have yet to be announced. Last year TfL executives, led by commissioner Peter Hendy, decided to waive their performance awards. However, one scenario under consideration this year could see TfL’s top team defer their bonuses pending the performance of London’s transport network during the 2012 Olympics. TfL is in talks with the RMT over a pay deal that could head off the threat of industrial action during the games. Hendy and senior colleagues have noted a recent deal between the RMT and Network Rail, in which staff will be paid up to £500 each for performing extra shifts during the Olympics. It includes an agreement, described by industry sources as a no-strike deal in all but name – that disputes during the games will go to arbitration with no industrial action while discussions take place. Referring to the Network Rail deal last month, Crow said: “We will be looking for the same if not better on London Underground.” Transport Trade unions London Crossrail Boris Johnson Bob Crow Dan Milmo guardian.co.uk

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‘Cars 2′ Tops the Weekend Box Office

‘Cars 2′ keeps Pixar in the driver’s seat as the animated film bests ‘Bad Teacher’ at theaters. (June 27)

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NY Times Gay Marriage Roundup: Banner Headlines, Few Opponents, ‘Tears of Joy’

As expected, New York Times coverage of the law passed late Friday night allowing gay marraige in New York State was heavily favorable. Sunday’s front page New York Times story provided the tick-tock on how New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo marshaled support to pass gay marriage in the Republican-controlled New York State Senate in part by convincing “super-rich Republican donors” to support him, in Michael Barbaro’s “ Behind Gay Marriage, an Unlikely Mix of Forces .” It included this odd anecdote about a Democratic state senator and holdout against history:

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Mitsubishi’s new all-in-one set crams 500GB HDD and Blu-ray recorder into tiny package

Mitsubishi’s new Real LCD-22BLR500 TV is hardly the first set packed with a built-in Blu-ray recorder and hard drive, but it’s certainly one of the smaller ones we’ve seen. The 22-inch 1,366 x 768 LED-backlit display is probably too tiny for your average living room, but cramming the 500GB HDD and optical dive in the base helps it keep a thin profile and a stable footprint that could fit perfectly in a small bedroom or dorm. Around back are a bevy of inputs, including a USB jack, a pair of HDMI ports, an SD slot, Ethernet, and i.Link. Sadly, this compact all-in-one TV will be a Japan-only affair when it hits shelves on July 21st for around

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It’s not a good day to live near a nuclear facility : In New Mexico, a wildfire is edging dangerously close to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the world’s first nuclear weapons were developed during WWII. “It’s a very, very big concern, not only locally but nationally and globally,” says…

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Aniston Is a Horrible Boss

Actress Jennifer Aniston talks about what persuaded her to take her role in ‘Horrible Bosses’, while actors Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day and Jason Bateman discuss their favorite scene from the work based comedy. (June 27)

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Prince Harry: ‘I’m 100 Percent Single’

We’ve been rolling our eyes on the regular ever since rumors started swirling that Prince Harry was seeing Pippa Middleton. In a (hyphenated) word: puh-leeze. Now, Harry has set the record straight, telling reporters at the Hard Rock Calling concert in London on Friday night that he’s unattached, the Daily Mail writes. Prince Charming said, “Pippa? Ha! No, I am not seeing anyone at the moment. I’m 100 percent single.” Hold the phone — 100 percent single…what about Chelsy Davy? You know what: not even going to go there. He added, “I’m working a lot at the moment, so dating and watching TV are the last things I have time for….I am hoping to get a holiday in August. I haven’t been to South Africa in a long time, so maybe I’ll go there.” Read the rest at the DailyMail.co.uk.

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The Obama administration fears there are too few primary care doctors to go around—so it’s launching a team of “mystery shoppers” to look into the physicians’ availability. The undercover callers will seek appointments at doctors’ offices nationwide to determine ease of access. Some will say they’ve got private insurance,…

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie revels in his bullying style, as do most conservatives, but it’s really starting to backfire on him. Verbally beating up on teachers and school administrators and other public servants makes him huggable with the psychos who watch John Stossel, but to the general public it makes him about as huggable as Lotso. This is being reflected in the polls of New Jersey voters . And he’s losing women at a very fast rate. One example came back in April, when Chris Christie urged reporters to ‘take the bat’ to 76-year-old widow . Isn’t he so sweet? Earlier this week, Christie took more flack for the way he treated a woman who called in complaining about the way he’s slashing funds to public education while sending his kids to private school. He told Gail it was none of her business. On the Today Show this morning, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) defended his belittling of a constituent who asked the governor if he sends his kids to private or public school. Christie has slashed public education spending so severely that the state Supreme Court overruled him . However, when the woman called into a local TV interview Christie was giving this month to see if he understood first-hand the devastating effects of his cuts, the governor went off on the woman, angrily saying, “Hey Gail, you know what, first of all it’s none of your business .” Christie sends his kids to private school. This morning, Today Show host Matt Lauer brought up the incident, asking, “Why isn’t it a fair question?” “Her point is completely ridiculous,” Chrisitie snapped, calling the woman “nonsensical.” On Meet The Press, Christie tried to downplay the exchange with Gail by telling David Gregory he’s just a huggable and loveable guy. GREGORY: Now I’m familiar with the substance of you what said, which is you’re a taxpayer. You pay– property taxes. You’re the governor of everybody. You’re working for the best public schools for everybody. For religious reasons– you and your wife decided to send your kids to parochial schools. My question is more about your temperament. Is– should the chief executive speak to people that way? GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE: Damn right he should. You know why? Because this is who I am. And the public knows they get it straight from me. And so what I said to her was, “Don’t question my wife and my– and my parenting decisions.” That’s the most personal thing that you can say to someone. You’re a father. You know this. These parenting decisions we make from the heart. There’s no one more precious in my life than my wife and my four children. And when we make those decisions, that’s not appropriate for public inquiry. I made that decision because I believe, David, in my heart, that’s the right thing. And so you know what? I am very blunt, I am very direct and you know what? So was she. And you look at her tone and her demeanor in that question, so was she. She’s questioning my ability as a public officer holder to make decisions about every child in New Jersey and their public education because my children go to parochial school? Well, I went to public schools in New Jersey. I’m a product of the public schools. And so you’re– you know what? Absolutely. I wish more people in public life would respond just that way. DAVID GREGORY: But authenticity is one thing. But we all can be better in the public square — how we interact with people. Are you too abrasive? Are you too stubborn? Are you too– tough when it comes to people questioning you? GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE: I’m huggable and loveable, David. I am not abrasive at all. I– listen, I’m honest. And I wish we had more of it in politics. You know what people are tired of in politics? They’re tired of blow dried– tested answers that are given by political consultants to politicians and everybody sounds the same. (BABBLING) And everybody sounds the same. He’s just lying when he says he’s not abrasive and he knows it. Conservatives love a mean-spirited bully as a politician and that’s why they’ve been begging him to run in 2012 . He can’t hide from ugly incidents like this even if the national press has been slobbering all over him . Eric Boehlert writes: I realize much of the D.C. press corps is crushing on Christie. But before they announce that “people” are responding to the governor’s “plain talk,” pundits might want to find out if that response extends beyond their professional class. Everybody remembers how Toy Story 3 ends, right? Lotso’s new home is on the front grill of a truck. And the entire audience cheers.

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie revels in his bullying style, as do most conservatives, but it’s really starting to backfire on him. Verbally beating up on teachers and school administrators and other public servants makes him huggable with the psychos who watch John Stossel, but to the general public it makes him about as huggable as Lotso. This is being reflected in the polls of New Jersey voters . And he’s losing women at a very fast rate. One example came back in April, when Chris Christie urged reporters to ‘take the bat’ to 76-year-old widow . Isn’t he so sweet? Earlier this week, Christie took more flack for the way he treated a woman who called in complaining about the way he’s slashing funds to public education while sending his kids to private school. He told Gail it was none of her business. On the Today Show this morning, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) defended his belittling of a constituent who asked the governor if he sends his kids to private or public school. Christie has slashed public education spending so severely that the state Supreme Court overruled him . However, when the woman called into a local TV interview Christie was giving this month to see if he understood first-hand the devastating effects of his cuts, the governor went off on the woman, angrily saying, “Hey Gail, you know what, first of all it’s none of your business .” Christie sends his kids to private school. This morning, Today Show host Matt Lauer brought up the incident, asking, “Why isn’t it a fair question?” “Her point is completely ridiculous,” Chrisitie snapped, calling the woman “nonsensical.” On Meet The Press, Christie tried to downplay the exchange with Gail by telling David Gregory he’s just a huggable and loveable guy. GREGORY: Now I’m familiar with the substance of you what said, which is you’re a taxpayer. You pay– property taxes. You’re the governor of everybody. You’re working for the best public schools for everybody. For religious reasons– you and your wife decided to send your kids to parochial schools. My question is more about your temperament. Is– should the chief executive speak to people that way? GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE: Damn right he should. You know why? Because this is who I am. And the public knows they get it straight from me. And so what I said to her was, “Don’t question my wife and my– and my parenting decisions.” That’s the most personal thing that you can say to someone. You’re a father. You know this. These parenting decisions we make from the heart. There’s no one more precious in my life than my wife and my four children. And when we make those decisions, that’s not appropriate for public inquiry. I made that decision because I believe, David, in my heart, that’s the right thing. And so you know what? I am very blunt, I am very direct and you know what? So was she. And you look at her tone and her demeanor in that question, so was she. She’s questioning my ability as a public officer holder to make decisions about every child in New Jersey and their public education because my children go to parochial school? Well, I went to public schools in New Jersey. I’m a product of the public schools. And so you’re– you know what? Absolutely. I wish more people in public life would respond just that way. DAVID GREGORY: But authenticity is one thing. But we all can be better in the public square — how we interact with people. Are you too abrasive? Are you too stubborn? Are you too– tough when it comes to people questioning you? GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE: I’m huggable and loveable, David. I am not abrasive at all. I– listen, I’m honest. And I wish we had more of it in politics. You know what people are tired of in politics? They’re tired of blow dried– tested answers that are given by political consultants to politicians and everybody sounds the same. (BABBLING) And everybody sounds the same. He’s just lying when he says he’s not abrasive and he knows it. Conservatives love a mean-spirited bully as a politician and that’s why they’ve been begging him to run in 2012 . He can’t hide from ugly incidents like this even if the national press has been slobbering all over him . Eric Boehlert writes: I realize much of the D.C. press corps is crushing on Christie. But before they announce that “people” are responding to the governor’s “plain talk,” pundits might want to find out if that response extends beyond their professional class. Everybody remembers how Toy Story 3 ends, right? Lotso’s new home is on the front grill of a truck. And the entire audience cheers.

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