http://www.tenerifeforum.com/ Tenerife News Updates en Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:33:41 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.tenerifeforum.com/images/misc/rss.png http://www.tenerifeforum.com/ http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70573-arona-bin-men-go-strike.html Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:04:17 GMT The Arona Bin Men are due to go on indefinite strike from today according to report jueves 09 de septiembre de 2010 Tenerife ARONA Los 360... The Arona Bin Men are due to go on indefinite strike from today according to report

jueves 09 de septiembre de 2010


Tenerife
ARONA
Los 360 trabajadores de la basura y limpieza viaria van a la huelga
El Ayuntamiento adjudica el nuevo servicio a una UTE que comenzará a trabajar sobre febrero de 2011. Se subrogan todos los puestos de trabajo
| Compártelo

Nicolás Dorta

Arona

Los 360 trabajadores del servicio de recogida de basura y limpieza viaria de Arona, pertenecientes a la empresa Camilo Álvarez Sánchez, anunciaron ayer una huelga indefinida a partir de hoy por el impago de sus salarios desde agosto y pagas extraordinarias, informó a este periódico Jose Luis Santana, miembro del comité de empresa por Comisiones Obreras. Los trabajadores achacan a este situación de una cuestión de tiempo y desde el sindicato piden disculpas a los ciudadanos por las molestias que puedan ocasionar. Esperan que antes del día 20 de este mes se solucione la situación para evitar que siga la huelga. A la empresa le cuesta aproximadamente unos 450.000 euros mensuales el sueldo total de todos los trabajadores pero al parecer no puede hacer frente a los pagos por los embargos de Hacienda y Seguridad Social. Arona es uno de los municipios turísticos más importantes de Canarias con una población que supera los 80.000 habitantes y una huelga de basura ocasionaría graves consecuencias para el sector turístico y para todos los ciudadanos.

Los trabajadores ya no podían aguantar más este problema y ponen como ejemplo que el mes de mayo lo cobraron el 24 de junio. "El Ayuntamiento intenta hacer lo que puede y gracias a éste hemos podido cobrar pero es lamentable que no se haya solucionado al situación", dice José Luis Santana. La huelga ha sido autorizada por el Servicio de Mediación SEMAC y se esperan respuestas favorables por parte de la adjudicataria a la que no le queda mucho tiempo para seguir trabajando en este municipio, pues a finales de enero o febrero se cumple su contrato, iniciado en los años ochenta, y otra entidad ocupará el puesto.

Asó lo anunció ayer el responsable de Medio Ambiente y Urbanismo, Antonio Sosa, pues el Ayuntamiento ha adjudicado esta semana a la Unión Temporal de Empresas (UTE) Sufi-Hermanos Santana Cazorla el servicio de recogida de residuos y limpieza viaria. El nuevo contrato cuesta 99 millones de euros y la empresa debe aportar un aval del 5%. El pliego de condiciones subroga a todos los trabajadores de limpieza viaria y basura, aunque divide la limpieza del litoral en otro apartado, "gestión integral de litoral", que la asumirá otra empresa, explicó Sosa. El contrato será por ahora de ocho años, según Sosa, y se podrá prorrogar.

Las otras dos empresas que estuvieron cerca de adjudicarse el "codiciado" servicio fueron Urbaser y Fomento de Construcciones y contratas (FCC). El edil dice que el nuevo pliego "es un abismo" comparado con el anterior en la mejora de las condiciones y de las prestaciones para la gestión de residuos y limpieza.
COMENTARIOS DE LA NOTICIA - NORMAS DE USO ]]> Tenerife News junglejim http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70573-arona-bin-men-go-strike.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70572-hunger-strikers-hospitalised.html Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:17:50 GMT Owners of homes threatened with demolition in the Cho Vito district of Candelaria have refused to suspend their hunger strike ahead of a planned... Owners of homes threatened with demolition in the Cho Vito district of Candelaria have refused to suspend their hunger strike ahead of a planned meeting between the town's mayor and the Spanish authorities in Madrid.

Mayor Gumersindo García says he will not fly to the capital to seek a reversal of the demolition decision by the Department of Coasts unless the families call a halt to the protest, which has gone on for a week in the centre of Santa Cruz. 'It is not about seeing who can shout or protest loudest, the situation calls for calm on all sides' he insisted.

However, the hunger strikers, who have taken only water with lemon juice since Wednesday, are adamant they not leave their makeshift camp on the main square until they receive a written guarantee that their modest seafront homes will not be pulled down.

Candelaria - 08.09.2010 - (UPDATE)

Two of the Cho Vito residents who are staging a hunger strike in the centre of Santa Cruz over the forthcoming demolition of their homes had to be admitted to hospital last night due to their weak condition.

The two women were taken away by ambulance after suffering stomach cramps and dizzy spells brought on by their enforced fast, now into its second week. However, the medical emergency has not deterred the other members of the group, who carried on their sit-in at the Plaza de la Candelaria, where they are due to hold a press conference today to reiterate their demands for action to halt the demolitions by the Department of Coasts.

Island Connections ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70572-hunger-strikers-hospitalised.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70571-president-threatens-action-over-shipping-costs.html Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:12:36 GMT Canarian president Paulino Rivero has warned shipping lines that he will take them to Spain's Competition Board over their massive hike in freight charges which could lead to heavy price rises in the islands.

Rivero met with a cross section of sectors affected by the increase (up to 40% in some cases) and heard for himself the predictions that imported products from food to building materials will inevitably rise due to the effect of the higher shipping tariffs.

'There is no justification for this concerted increase by the companies and I intend to have the legality of the decision examined by the competition authorities' he insisted.

Island Connections ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70571-president-threatens-action-over-shipping-costs.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70038-tourists-figures-rise-tenerife.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:01:36 GMT TENERIFE’S upmarket hotels attracted more than 10% extra visitors in July against the corresponding month last year. In fact, there was another... TENERIFE’S upmarket hotels attracted more than 10% extra visitors in July against the corresponding month last year.

In fact, there was another ray of sunshine all round for the Island this week when overall figures released by the Government’s Research Department of Tourism for that period rose by nearly 9% to 450 554, in comparison with last July.

It is no coincidence that the euro against the pound has risen by some 15% from the same period last year. That, in effect, means that hotels are that much cheaper now for British holiday-makers.

And the news is even better for Tenerife when measured against the Icelandic ash-cloud controversy earlier in the year, which caused havoc in the airline industry for weeks and dissuaded many people from travelling abroad.

Add that to the recent threat of strikes by airline crews, which would again have put people off flying, and the tourism figures look even rosier.

Happily, those disputes were either settled recently, or put aside until the autumn, which means we should be able to look forward to even better figures for August.

The hotel trade improved by 2.89% to 262,789 tourists, while the other sectors enjoyed an increase of 5.02%, attracting 187 765 visitors.

In the main holiday-maker areas, the south accounted for 364 189 visitors - 7.14% more than last year - with the north hosting 72 923, representing an 8.70% decrease.

Overall, for the first seven months of 2010, Tenerife recorded a total of 2,765,488 tourists, which is an improvement of 1.35% on that period last year.

Of great importance was the fact that Britain and Germany, the two main markets, had increases of 14.79% and 9.31% respectively.

Other countries, especially France (up 37.42%), Russia (26%), Italy (9.85%) and Belgium (9.38%), also made big contributions to the tourism growth.

Canarian Weekly ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70038-tourists-figures-rise-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70037-bottle-parties-spoil-adejes-tourist-image-tenerife.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:57:42 GMT They may be fun for the locals and they might well be an accepted part of the Tenerife night life scene and they might be difficult to eliminate, but... They may be fun for the locals and they might well be an accepted part of the Tenerife night life scene and they might be difficult to eliminate, but so-called 'big bottle parties' - where revellers congregate in their cars in areas around the beaches and coast - are once again proving contentious.

The Popular Party of Adeje says there have been complaints about these parties for two years but the authorities are turning a blind eye and have done nothing.

But they claim the bottle parties are giving the tourist zones in the south a bad image and are just not compatible with areas designated for holidays. They also think the parties are bad for young people as they encourage alcohol consumption but also because they have an adverse environmental impact.

The bottle parties are held most weekend nights during the summer and see dozens of cars arrive at a location fully equipped with drinks in the boot. These are opened to reveal full sound systems, glasses, bottles and even built-in optics. Unfortunately, the meeting points are frequently large car parks near hotels and by the beaches and the parties often go on well in to the night.

Members of the PP at Adeje want urgent action to be taken to stop the parties as they say they are 'clearly anti-social' and adversely affect thousands of residents and holiday-makers. The nuisance involves not only noise and vibration from the large beat music but traffic too and it is claimed many of the cars are driven recklessly.

They accept that it might be the norm in Spain but want heavy fines imposed which could be as much as 14,000 euros. They also want a clampdown on alcohol consumption in public places.

The PP says complaints have come from hoteliers and holiday-makers, as well as local residents, but feel the authorities are failing to be firm or brave enough to do anything about it.

They are also calling on the Government of Spain to impose legislation.

Tenerife News Online. ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70037-bottle-parties-spoil-adejes-tourist-image-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70036-more-police-veronicas-las-americas-tenerife.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:52:47 GMT Traders believe a greater police presence could improve the image of the Veronicas area of Playa de las Américas. The suggestion follows a meeting... Traders believe a greater police presence could improve the image of the Veronicas area of Playa de las Américas.

The suggestion follows a meeting between members of the new association for businesses in the zone, the AEPACA, and proprietors of establishments in Veronicas.

Under discussion was the need to improve the quality and image of the zone, as well as to invigorate it.

One of the suggestions made was for a greater police presence, mainly during the night, which it was felt would add to a sense of security for tourists walking through the area and eradicate juvenile delinquency.

It was also felt that the general street scene could be livened up with the presence perhaps of entertainers, artists, mimers, musicians etc.

Canaryislandnews.com ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70036-more-police-veronicas-las-americas-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70035-wage-cuts-continue-granadilla-tenerife.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:48:23 GMT Granadilla council has decided to impose a salary cut on elected officials for the second time in just over six months. The town’s mayor Carmen... Granadilla council has decided to impose a salary cut on elected officials for the second time in just over six months.

The town’s mayor Carmen Nieves Rivero secured approval from her colleagues for a fresh reduction of between two and three per cent, which follows the five per cent pay cut taken at the beginning of the year. “We decided to set an example back in January by imposing a cut on councillors even before Spain’s Local Government Association formally recommended the step as part of cost-cutting measures.

Now we want to do a little more to save on costs at the council,” explained the mayor, who slammed the town’s PSOE councillors for opposing the cut for procedural reasons given that it did not feel the vote should be taken under urgent business.

Source: Island Connections ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70035-wage-cuts-continue-granadilla-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70034-heat-brings-fresh-bans-tenerife.html Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:45:16 GMT The latest heatwave has brought a fresh ban on a range of potentialy hazardous activities throughout Tenerife. An official ban on a number of... The latest heatwave has brought a fresh ban on a range of potentialy hazardous activities throughout Tenerife.

An official ban on a number of activities in the island's mountains and woods has been imposed.

The Tenerife Cabildo has prohibited temporarily the lighting of fires of any kind in recreation and BBQ areas; the use of fireworks, burning of vegetation and leftovers from tree cuttings and plant clippings.

A ban has also been placed on the use in farmland or wooded areas of equipment which might give off sparks, such as weeding machines, burners for bee keepers or soldering equipment etc.

The Cabildo says the prohibitions will remain in place until the weather cools down and the risk of forest and wild fires is reduced.

Island Connections Online ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/70034-heat-brings-fresh-bans-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69805-sarratt-couple-fall-ill-holiday-tenerife.html Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:11:05 GMT An elderly couple from Sarratt, who suffered from a severe stomach illness while on holiday in Tenerife, are taking legal action against their... An elderly couple from Sarratt, who suffered from a severe stomach illness while on holiday in Tenerife, are taking legal action against their travel operator.

Timothy and Patricia Regan, from Deadmans Ash Lane, had severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting while staying at the 400-room, four-star Barceló Santiago hotel, in Puerto de Santiago.

In fact, the couple who run the Sarratt Post Office, were so ill that they continued to be sick even after they returned home.
Mr Regan, 63, said: “The standards at the hotel were shocking, the food at the hotel restaurant was terrible and was severely undercooked.

“New food was added to old throughout the day so no one had any idea how long it had been sat out for.”

Mr and Mrs Regan were both fine on Wednesday, the first day of the holiday, but by the Friday both began to feel unwell.

Mr Regan said: “My wife went downhill very quickly, and was even worse on Saturday.
“I asked reception to call a doctor on Sunday, he told me off for leaving it so long because Patricia was severely dehydrated. He had to give her three or four injections and some antibiotics.

“You're such a long way away from home, and I was worried about how we would get home, I had visions of air ambulances because she was in such a bad state.
“To say I was extremely worried about her is an understatement.”

Patricia, 71, was off work for almost three weeks, and now, the couple have sought legal action against Thomson Holidays, the travel operator.

Irwin Mitchell solicitors are investigating claims from more than 20 other holidaymakers who became ill while staying the hotel between February and April of this year.

Suki Chhokar, a partner in the travel law team, said they had been taking complaints since February, and suggested that as many as 300 people may have been affected.

“It would appear that a large number of people fell very ill in a very short space of time,” he said, “this hotel’s managers and the tour operators in question owe it to their customers to stand up and take responsibility for the suffering caused.”

Ian Benjafield, from Thomson, confirmed that both visitors and local residents in the Los Gigantes area suffered from norovirus early this year, a gastrointestinal illness, passed from person-to-person.

He added: “At the time of the illness, we worked the affected hotels to help them limit the spread of the illness by adopting industry recognised procedures.

“We have seen no evidence to support the allegation that any illness at the hotel was related to food hygiene, independent experts ruled out anything other than a person-to-person communicable virus.”

Mr Regan added: “To think a holiday caused us so much pain and upset, both when we were away and when we got home, is really unfair.
“We work hard and deserve to enjoy our precious time away. Our holiday is the usually the highlight of our year, but this time it was something we would certainly rather forget and we wish we had never gone away in the first place.”

Source: Watford Observer ]]> Tenerife News zarion http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69805-sarratt-couple-fall-ill-holiday-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69804-tenerife-uses-youtube-video-productions-attract-tourists.html Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:23:00 GMT Tenerife Tourism Corporation has launched a YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/WebtenerifeEn) for the UK market. The channel features... Tenerife Tourism Corporation has launched a YouTube channel for the UK market.

The channel features series of videos designed to illustrate the island’s diversity and focus on aspects of Tenerife that are not well-known in the UK.

Jose Manuel Bermudez, vice-president of the Tenerife Island Government and councillor for tourism said: “The internet is an important place to research travel, so we are keen to ensure that Tenerife's voice is heard on social media platforms.

“Social media presents us with the perfect opportunity to reach potential holidaymakers and engage in dialogue with those who know our island and those who may not.”

Travellers can also find out further information, post videos and images and ask questions on the Tenerife Facebook fan page.

Source: Travolution.co.uk ]]> Tenerife News zarion http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69804-tenerife-uses-youtube-video-productions-attract-tourists.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69654-spanish-traffic-authority-starts-target-foreign-drivers.html Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:56:39 GMT Speed traps in Spain are being adapted to read foreign number plates. The DGT Spanish traffic authority has announced a new system to fine foreign... Speed traps in Spain are being adapted to read foreign number plates.

The DGT Spanish traffic authority has announced a new system to fine foreign drivers who exceed the speed limit. Previously many drivers in foreign number-plated cars escaped punishment.

The new system has been installed on four speed traps where there is a high number of foreign drivers – the AP-7 in Castellón, the A7 in Murcia, the A-31 in Alicante and the A-52 in Zamora.

It’s understood that special adaptors on these speed traps are designed to catch foreign motorists, that some have been operational since the start of the summer, and the rest will be so this week.

When the speed trap detects a foreign number plate breaking the speed limit a photograph is taken and then related to the DGT centre in León where such fines are processed. At the same time local Trafico agents in the area receive an automated message with details of the infraction so that they can personally inform the driver of the vehicle.

According to the Deputy Director of the DGT, Federico Fernández, it has been shown that between 30% and 40% of the speeding drivers in the summer have foreign number plates.

The news comes amid a debate in the media in Spain as to whether traffic fines are effective in saving lives, or a just another way for the Government to raise funds.

Canarian Weekly ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69654-spanish-traffic-authority-starts-target-foreign-drivers.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69653-granadilla-port-confusion-continues-tenerife.html Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:52:12 GMT 23.08.2010 - The future of the new port in Granadilla continues to be surrounded with confusion despite the decision by the Tenerife authorities... 23.08.2010 -

The future of the new port in Granadilla continues to be surrounded with confusion despite the decision by the Tenerife authorities to push ahead with construction work.

At the end of July, just when it appeared that the last legal hurdles had been cleared, the Canarian High Court issued a statement saying it had not lifted the temporary ban imposed in 2009 after opponents filed a legal challenge against the government’s decision to downgrade the conservation measures applicable to marine life species in the area in order to get around its own environmental legislation.

However, the Court says that the new Protected Species List, passed by the regional Parliament at the end of May, is not the end of the matter and has given itself the first half of August to decide whether to forward the controversial modification of the previous List to the country’s Constitutional Court for a definitive ruling.

Island Connections ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69653-granadilla-port-confusion-continues-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69652-mount-teide-tops-poll-visitors-tenerife.html Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:47:53 GMT 23.08.2010 - Once again Teide was the most visited National Park in the country in 2009. Of the almost 10 million visits to the 14 National... 23.08.2010 -

Once again Teide was the most visited National Park in the country in 2009.

Of the almost 10 million visits to the 14 National Parks across Spain, 3,052,830 were to Tenerife’s crowning glory and the Canary Islands’ four parks attracted over half the total visitors.

Lanzarote’s Timanfaya was in third position attracting 1,371,349 visitors, La Gomera’s Garajonay in fifth place with 625,801 and La Palma’s Caldera de Taburiente in seventh place with 377,349.

Island Connections ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69652-mount-teide-tops-poll-visitors-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69602-water-alert-tenerife.html Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:07:01 GMT Officials have promised a full and exhaustive report following a water alert in Granadilla. Householders were told by a public address system that... Officials have promised a full and exhaustive report following a water alert in Granadilla.

Householders were told by a public address system that the water was not safe to drink or cook with in various locations across the municipality.These included Chimiche, Las Vegas, Las Rosas, La Higuera, Los Blanquitos and El Desierto.

The water was cleared for washing but pollution was thought to have made it unsafe for drinking.

Work was immediately instigated to put it right but a full report will be made to discover the exact reason and to avoid any reoccurrence.

Canaryislandnews.com ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69602-water-alert-tenerife.html http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69572-dustmens-strike-avoided-puerto-de-la-cruz.html Sun, 22 Aug 2010 11:34:08 GMT Further refuse collectors' unrest in Puerto de la Cruz was avoided late in July after the Council transferred 139,600€ into the account of the El Tarajal Cooperative, the company contracted to clean schools, sports halls and other municipal institutions.

El Tarajal's only client is the town council. If there is no cash available at the town hall it does not get paid, and the cooperative's work force had not received their salaries for three months.

The economic crisis means the council receives less revenue and the massive debts, inherited mainly from previous administrations, means the current Nationalist-Conservative governing alliance has to conjure up miracles in order to pay for services and its own staff.

Naturally the town council and the political parties currently at the helm get the blame for the trouble. That is why Sandra Rodríguez, Councillor for the Economy, just after announcing that a transfer had been made to El Tarajal, wanted to make it quite clear that the fact that the dustmen were not being paid was not the council's fault.

The company, El Tarajal, she said, is responsible for its worker's wages, not the Council. She also reminded the unions representing the dustmen that they were not the only workforce feeling the pinch in the crisis and that they should not use these difficulties to make political gain for the Socialist opposition.

Both she and the Mayor, Marcos Brito, she said, had to try to deal with many ordinary folk's problems on a daily basis.

Tenerife News Online ]]> Tenerife News slodgedad http://www.tenerifeforum.com/tenerife-news/69572-dustmens-strike-avoided-puerto-de-la-cruz.html