Workers employed by Atos, the French multinational company which runs a number
of Government contracts, are to strike in a row over pay.
The Public and
Commercial Services union said around 2,000 of its members who administer the
Department for Work and Pensions medical examinations, work in National Savings,
the Equitable Life compensation scheme and who deliver IT support for customers
such as the BBC, will walk out tomorrow.
The union said Atos has offered
staff who work in healthcare a 2% rise and those who work in IT services 2.8%,
linked to changes to longstanding terms and conditions such as annual leave and
flexible working arrangements.
An Atos spokesman said: "Robust
contingency plans are in place to maintain services during industrial
action.
"The changes we have put forward are in order to sustain our
business for the future and we have made a fair and competitive offer which we
believe is substantial in the current climate and are disappointed in this
position.
"This strike action does not reflect the view of the vast
majority of our employees."
The union warned that the strike was likely
to be the first in a series of walkouts which will "seriously affect" the
company's ability to meet Government service level agreements.
A work to
rule will be held from November 6.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka
said : "If the company can afford a 14% pay rise for its chief executive, it can
afford to reward its low-paid, hard-working staff fairly.
"Our members
are angry and determined. Like workers elsewhere they have seen the money in
their pockets and purses reduce, whilst food costs, energy costs, transport
costs soar. This must end.
"Our members are being asked to suffer
austerity whilst the cream from the £1.6 billion Government contracts that Atos
hold is skimmed off for the bosses and shareholders of this multinational
company".
Belfast Telegraph
