| Harman lobbied over gender pay gap
Union activists have lobbied a Government minister as part of a campaign to close the gender pay gap. Officials from Unison delivered a strong message that women deserve as much pay as men to Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman at the party's Spring conference in Birmingham. The union's head of local government Heather Wakefield, women's officer Sharon Green and other female officials pointed out that women's average pay was still "scandalously" 17% less than men's. Unison's general secretary Dave Prentis said: "Thirty years on, the Equal Pay Act is still seen by many employers as a take-it-or-leave-it bit of legislation. "But we want to see it implemented robustly across the UK. "Local authorities have dragged their feet in implementing equal pay, blaming the lack of cash.
Pairings: Potstickers to match Pinot Noir bring properity for the ...
In China, red is an auspicious, lucky color. It is also the color for Chinese New Year. The 2008 Lunar New Year (the Year of the Rat) began yesterday, so this week's wine - Carneros Pinot Noir - is a perfect fit. Pinot Noir, one of the most food-friendly reds around, gets a pairing boost from Carneros' typical characteristics: moderate weight, red fruit and zingy acidity. Add generally lower alcohol levels (around 13.5 to 14 percent) and it's a red wine fit for many Chinese dishes, including those with a hint of chile heat. Cherry, red raspberry and strawberry fruit aromas and flavors will support but not overpower Chinese ingredients like oyster sauce, soy sauce and fermented black beans. The contrast of salty-savory sauces to tart red fruit is a complementary match.
County awards $72.9M treatment plant contract
The contract for expanding Frederick County's water treatment plant on New Design Road has been awarded to a St. Louis-based firm. Fru-Con Construction was won the $72.9-million deal to expand the plant from 8.8 million gallons a day to 25 million gallons a day. The expansion includes a pre-sedimentation basin, rapid mixers, three flocculation basins, three sedimentation basins, six filters, four filter effluent pumps, an ultraviolet disinfection system and high service pump station. Modifications and upgrades will also be made to the existing sedimentation basins, rapid mix area and filters. A new backup power generation system will be provided. No target date has been set for the project, which was designed by Rummel, Klepper, Kahl of Baltimore, in association with Hazen and Sawyer of New York.
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