PCS news digest 17 August

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PCS Comment

17 August 2012

This week's PCS news digest carries reports on an MP's call for a review of medical assessments for benefits claims, jobcentre call handlers striking over oppressive working conditions and police opening fire on striking South African miners.

17 August

MP calls for Atos contract review – Belfast Telegraph

The government has been urged to overhaul its contract with a private firm contracted to carry out medical assessments for benefits claims after auditors identified weaknesses in the deal.

Police open fire on South African miners – Aljazeera

At least 12 people have been killed when police opened fire on miners staging a protest at a platinum mine in South Africa, reported Aljazeera.

16 August

Experts attack Osborne over austerity plan – Guardian

Economists who backed chancellor in 2010 urge U-turn on hardline policy

Tax evaders and fraudsters gallery is published by HMRC – BBC

Tax officials have published a gallery of photographs of the people they consider to be the most wanted UK tax fugitives, reported the BBC.

Capita staff in Birmingham set to strike as jobs sent to India – Birmingham Mail

Birmingham workers at computer services giant Capita have voted to go on strike over job losses and work being sent to India.

Rep says graduated licensing system would cut down road accidents – BBC Surrey

BBC Surrey reported Steve Griger of PCS in the Driving Standards Agency explain why the union thinks there should be a graduated licensing system to cut down road accidents (listen at 1hr 12mins, 54 secs).

15 August

Young people are struggling to get their careers off the ground – TUC

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said there were “worrying trends brewing” and with the economy getting smaller it may only be a matter of time before the dole queues start rising again.

Suicide rise linked to recession – Wales Online

Wales Online reported that the recession and rising unemployment may have led to more than 1,000 suicides in England between 2008 and 2010, a study has found.

Back our pensions battle, says paramedic – Plymouth Herald

A paramedic is urging city people to back an online campaign for fair pensions, reported the Plymouth Herald.

14 August

G4S proves we can’t always rely on private sector, admits minister – Independent

Philip Hammond says Olympic chaos forced policy rethink, reported the Independent.

Atos IT staff call off strike action – Computerworld

London 2012 Olympic Games sponsor Atos has made a new pay offer to its IT services and healthcare staff, which has prevented strike action that was due to start on Monday (14 August).

Cuts cause chaos and anxiety across civil service – PCS

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said it was hardly surprising that constant change at the top of many government departments across the civil service, coupled with unrealistic and sustained cuts, had increased anxiety for people across the grades.

13 August

$1,000-a-day union buster tells workers: “I do this for fun” – Union-News

Workers who signed affiliation cards with a union in the US have become targets of the company’s anti-union philosophy, reported the Union-News website.

Jobcentre call handlers strike over oppressive target-driven culture – PCS

Jobcentre staff who deal with calls from people entitled to benefits and crisis loans went on strike over oppressive working conditions and unrealistic targets.

Jobcentre strike: union complains of poor conditions – STV

Jobcentre call handlers staged a strike over what they call "oppressive working conditions and unrealistic targets,” reported STV.

12 August

Curious Incident author Mark Haddon says wealthy should pay more tax – Observer

Award-winning novelist tells MP that he and other well-off people should pay more tax to save others being hit by spending cuts, reported the Observer.

Lawyers challenge privateering police – Morning Star

Lawyers have threatened West Midlands Police with legal action over its controversial plans to outsource services to the private sector, reported the Morning Star.

Google chiefs could face MPs over tax avoidance schemes – Independent on Sunday

Google chiefs face the prospect of being hauled before MPs to explain themselves over their tax avoidance schemes, the Independent on Sunday has learned.

11 August

Disabled left feeling useless by reforms to their benefits – This is Somerset

A Paulton woman with cerebral palsy has spoken about changes to the welfare benefits system which will have a far ranging effect not just on her but on disabled people generally, reported This Is Somerset.

The ties to human misery that taint London 2012 – Huffington Post

Despite the charm and coruscation of the games as a celebration of international talent there is a darker side to London 2012, claimed human rights journalist Emanuel Stoakes writing for the Huffington Post.

Public and Commercial Services Union