UK & USA Today Editoweb 8 July 2010

Substitute teachers may be axed
Substitute cover for teachers in Co Down could be axed under £3.6 million cost-saving proposals, it has been revealed. Squeezing three pupils into bus seats designed for two, reducing school maintenance and even cutting book stocks could also be introduced under the plans. Savings are also to be made in special needs provision at the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) this financial year. Arthur McGarrigle, Northern Ireland secretary for the NASUWT union, said the substitute teaching cuts could have a detrimental effect. He said: "Teachers will be coming in with ill-health because they will be scared to take time off as that will inconvenience their colleagues. As a result they will become more ill and will require even more time off than they would have. If someone has the flu and won`t take the time off as it will affect their colleagues, a lot of others will get it."(press association)

Ex-Mountie 'faces uphill struggle'
Former Canadian Mountie Al Hutchinson faces an uphill struggle to win the confidence of Northern Ireland conflict victims after the shock withdrawal of the Police Ombudsman's latest report. Stinging public criticism from those bereaved by of one of the worst atrocities in the Troubles greeted his treatment of police after he partially exonerated their handling of the 1971 investigation. Children and pensioners were among 15 killed in the loyalist bombing of McGurk's bar in north Belfast. Some security officials initially blamed republican paramilitaries. Mr Hutchinson is a former assistant commissioner in the Mounties and spent almost 34 years there. Known for his expertise in economic crime, drug enforcement and public order he had a successful period overseeing changes to Northern Ireland's new police service, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, before becoming ombudsman in November 2007. He is a watchdog charged with investigating complaints about the police. His predecessor Dame Nuala O'Loan was being awarded an honorary degree at Queen's University on Friday. as Mr Hutchinson faces his most difficult public relations battle.(press association)

McDonald's to find Games volunteers
McDonald's is to help recruit and train the 70,000 volunteers who will be key to staging the London 2012  Games, it has been announced. It is believed the fast food giant's customer service expertise and strong high street presence means its 1,200 outlets will be helpful in recruiting the volunteers. They will be called Games Makers. The aim is to get people from different walks of life and parts of Britain involved with McDonald's helping to provide training for staff, materials and facilities. McDonald's, which spends more than £30 million annually on training its 80,000 workforce, was named as the presenting partner for London 2012 volunteer programme. London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: "Volunteers are vital to the success of the Games, and there are few organisations with the scale and experience required to help us prepare such a large team in a relatively short space of time.(press association)

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