Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
Union members who are staffed on the Elizabeth Line are set to walk out on New Year’s Eve over a pay dispute.
Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) staff who are based in the control room are set to walk out for 24 hours from 9pm after they rejected TfL’s pay offer and seek improvements on holiday entitlements as well as a reduction in working hours.
Union general secretary Mick Lynch says: “Our members play a vital role in running the Elizabeth line and their demands for fair treatment on working hours and leave remain unmet”.
TfL have confirmed that even if the strike goes ahead, then the line will still run albeit busier than normal.
Crazy News
A controversial art piece, named Comedian, has been sold for $6.2million at an auction.
The piece consists of a banana duct-taped to wall was purchased by prominent cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun as he describes it “represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community”.
Originally unveiled at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019 by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, it won’t last much longer as the fruit will be ripped off the wall and eaten.
Speaking of the event, Sun says: “I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honouring its place in both art history and popular culture”.
Happy News
Every first Tuesday of the month brings a band of guys together for their monthly event at The Old Swanne Inn in Evesham.
Kim Bright, David Day, Brian Wells, John Collins and Michael Stephens all met at Prince Henry’s School in the same town in 1953 and went for a farewell pint in 1960 but did not want to say goodbye – so for the past 64 years they meet up for the tradition each month.
All now within their 80s, admit they feel like a “band of brothers” and Mr Stephens adds: “we talk about all sorts of stuff, reminiscence. I never thought for one minute, we'd still be here doing it all these years later,"
Although technology has advanced in the years since, nothings beats the memories that they meet in person each month – some have since moved as far as South Africa but still make the journey.
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