Gloucestershire’s phlebotomists have brought their historic strike to a close after almost a year of action, leaving a legacy of determination – and a clear lesson about the power of solidarity in the face of anti-union laws and austerity, says FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT
Skating on thin ice
PETER FROST explains how the common skate is far from common – in fact it’s near extinction
LAST WEEK’S Ramblings on the young bearded vulture that toured Britain earlier this summer brought an email from a regular reader.
“Frosty,” it said, “why are you boasting about a beast with an eight-foot-something wing span when up here in the west of Scotland I often look up on a creature with a wingspan a foot or so bigger than that. No, I’m not talking about our golden or sea eagles.
“I’m a diver and the 3m (10ft) plus wingspan I’m talking about is on a fish. Why not tell our Star readers about the amazing skates and rays trying hard to survive on this beautiful part of our coastline?”
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