Tension in Scandinavia as merged rivals argue . The CWU says its is pleased that the 'sweatshop' conditions suffered by call centre workers are to be looked into by the Health and Safety Executive. IG Metall Trade Union rejects Vodafone's hostile takeover bid of the German industrial giant Mannesmann . Britain's first online department store is set to create 200 jobs in west Wales. German opposition to Vodafone AirTouch's audacious bid for Mannesmann, the industrial and telecommunications group, was growing last night with politicians across the party divide voicing their anger at the British company's unwanted attentions.
Call centres are the booming sector of the UK's service economy.
But workers say they are the twenty-first century's sweatshops, with poor pay and stress. The Observer's Burhan Wazir joined the ranks to check out conditions. Martin Bright reports on a Britain where everyone is a suspect. More news when available, click here for original news report . Tightlipped On Viag Talks.