Monday 26 September 2011

National Day of Protest Against Welfare & Housing Benefit Cuts

Online Protest Against the Atos Enablers – they’re all in it together!

September 26, 2011
by benefitclaimantsfightback

As part of the next National Day of Action Against disability deniers Atos, being held on Friday 30th September, join in the online protest to inform people doing business with Atos exactly where the money’s coming from.

In London a protest is being held outside the BMJ Careers fair from noon where Atos will be attempting to recruit more ‘disability assessors’ whose purpose is to strip sick and disabled people of vital benefits  – contact the BMJ and ask them to refuse to do business with this company who have no place in the medical profession when their flaws testing methods have led to suicides and a worsening of people’s conditions.  The BMJ can be contacted on: +44 (020) 7387 4410 and email addresses for their Sales and Marketing Team can be found at: http://resources.bmj.com/bmj/contact-us/marketing

Atos appear to have stopped carrying out recruitment days (funny that) and have employed the services of of medical recruitment firm SJB Medical.  They can be found at: http://www.sjbmedical.com/

Why not contact them and ask for a job if they are so keen on helping deprive disabled people and claimants of benefits: info@sjbmedical.com  or +44 (0)207 832 1980

Also happily on the gravy train are Derbyshire University who have recently agreed to accredit Atos’ disability denial training, meaning that learning to use a computer check list to determine the needs of people with complex and sometimes life threatening conditions may now form part of a medical degree!  Derbyshire University’s  head of Corporate Relations is Peter Gallimore and he can be found at:  p.gallimore@derby.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)1332 591942 | Mbl: 07748 920038.

Lefty rag The New Statesman have a long history of accepting sponsorship money from Atos.  Whilst it appears they are not using Atos’ money to fund their events at the party conferences this year they are refusing to say whether they have any current or future plans to accept money from Atos, despite several people having written to them and asked them.  How rude, why not contact them at: editorial@newstatesman.co.uk – a list of email addresses for individual journalists can be found at: http://www.newstatesman.com/page/contact-us

Finally you can contact Atos Healthcare’s  Customer Relationships department direct on +44 (0) 113 230 9175, or go straight to Head Office on +44 (0)20 7830 4444.  Don’t forget to add hashtags #atos to any tweets to let them know we’re thinking of them, and #atoskills because it annoys them.

The facebook page for the National Day of Action Against Atos detailing protests around the UK can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181940165210541

In the light of some recent silly sentences by daft old judges who don’t understand the internet we feel it is important to request that people refrain from out and out abuse when contacting organisations.

Please add details of any other Atos Enablers below and post up any responses received, the facebook page for the online event is at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199018570168931

National Day of Action Against Atos – Latest News

September 20, 2011

Cities around the UK are mobilising for the next National Day of Action Against Poverty Pimps Atos taking place on Friday 30th September.

Disabled people and supporters, claimants groups and anti-cuts groups will be gathering outside the offices of Atos once again demanding an end to the demeaning health testing which has seen thousands of people stripped of benefits.

Details of all the protests, pickets and events  so far below.  If you are organising a protest then please leave details in the comments or email us to be added to the list: notowelfarecuts@yahoo.co.uk

Birmingham
Friday, September 30 · 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Five Ways House, Islington Row, Middleway, B15 1SF

Demonstration and Leafletting Outside the ATOS Assesment centre
Five Ways house is just next to Five Ways train station and we will
leaflet there as well. We may decide to move to the city centre for more
visibility but a decision on that will be made on the day.
Action supported by Birmingham Against the Cuts, DPAC and Enable

Brighton
Friday, September 30 · 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Churchill Square, Brighton

Performance of Dick Whittington & His Work Capability Assessment – join in & shout at the computer!
Funeral procession for those who have died because of Atos. Wear black!
Leafleting & picket of Atos Healthcare testing centre in Upper North Street.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124505187651081

Chatham
Friday, September 30 · 12:00pm – 3:00pm
ATOS Assessment Centre Batchelor St Chatham (Next to Jolly Caulkers)

Medway Against Cuts will be holding a picket outside the Chatham Atos centre from 12pm – 2pm: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137896926308042

Edinburgh
Friday, September 30 · 11:00am – 1:00pm
Atos building, 44 York Place, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Atos Protest – please turn up and show your support: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177407589003798

Glasgow
Friday 30th September 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Atos Medical Assessment Centre, Corunna House, 29 Cadogan Street, G2 7RD

The National Day Of Action Against Atos event will happen in Glasgow outside the Atos Medical Assessment Centre.

They will be handing out leaflets to those attending sickness assessments on how to deal with the medical: http://thecrutchcollective.blogspot.com/2011/09/anti-atos-banner-making-and-meeting.html

Leeds
Friday, September 30 · 12:00pm – 12:30pm
Atos Origin Leeds, MWB Business Exchange, Whitehall Quay, Leeds

Leeds Protest on Day of Action Against Atos. Organised by Youth Fight For Jobs: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=224411990947204

London
In London people will be gathering outside the BMJ Recruitment Fair where Atos will be attempting to recruit yet more ‘disability assessors’: http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/protest-atos-outside-the-bmj-recruitment-fair-30th-sept/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125516627524734

Manchester
Friday, September 30 · 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Albert Bridge House
Bridge Street
Manchester M60 9DA

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=280945048585059
Norwich
Friday, September 30 · 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Atos, St Marys House, Norwich

Local poet Vince Laws will be protesting outside Atos, St Mary’s House and invites people to join him: http://www.vincelaws.com/

Nottingham
Friday, September 30 · 12:00pm – 3:00pm
Pedestrianised area of Hockley, outside Jugglers at the crossing of Broad St/Carlton St/Stoney St

A protest against ATOS and the their unfair capability assessments, designed to strip claimants of their disability benefits.

Assemble in Hockley to head over to protest at the ATOS assessment centre on Stoney Street: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=278089295537408

York
Friday, September 30 – 12:30pm – 2:00pm
St. Sampson’s Square

In line with the national call-out for actions against ATOS on 30th September, York Welfare Campaign are organising a protest and speak-out at St Sampson’s Square: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235204036528355

Events are also planned in Hastings, Edinburgh, Sheffield and more – watch this space for details!

For the main facebook event page for the National Day of Action visit: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181940165210541

Protest Atos Outside the BMJ Recruitment Fair – 30th Sept

September 9, 2011
by benefitclaimantsfightback

As part of the National Day of Protest Against Atos and the Poverty Pimps.

Friday, September 30 · 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Business Design Centre
52 Upper Street, Islington, N1

Come and meet Atosser!

Poverty Pimps Atos Origin, the sharks responsible for the harassment of sick and disabled claimants, are set to recruit hundreds of medical staff to carry out there notorious assessments on everyone receiving Incapacity Benefit.

As part of this Atos will be having a stall at the annual BMJ Recruitment Fair in Islington Design Centre on 30th September/1st October.

A protest has been called outside on the 30th where we will be not just demonstrating but handing out information to potential recruits on the devastation these tests have caused to the health of already vulnerable people.

“Please come and see us at stand 54 of the BMJ Careers Fair” say Atos on their website. Ok then we will.

http://www.atoshealthcarejobs.co.uk/events.html

Atos will also be exhibiting at the RCN Bulletin Jobs Fair at the same venue on 13/14th September and the CSP Congress in Liverpool on October in Liverpool on 7/8th October. We might go and see them there too.

The BMJ Recruitment Fairs Website is at: http://careersfair.bmj.com/en/1/home.html

No doubt a whole host of private companies itching to get their hands on the NHS will be recruiting there as well. We might have a chat with a few of them as well.

Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125516627524734

Please help spread the word!

Feel free to print out the leaflet below and help promote the protest.