Next week on February 19, protestors will be gathering nationally outside 144 Atos centres to peacefully protest against the inhumane and disgusting treatment of people receiving emplyment support allowance, and its predecessors incapacity benefit and the severe disablement allowance.
The poor treatment of our countries most vulnerable citizens is well documented, so this protest will call for an apology from Ian Duncan Smith and Thiery Breton, Chairman and CEO of ATOS to the growing number of people who have sadly taken their own lives due to this government of millionaires war of austerity on the poor, which has resulted in changes to the benefit system.
These include
Tim Salter 53 year old blind man suffering from agoraphobia
Lee Robinson 39, who was the first person in whose suicide could be attributed to the government changes.
Shaun Pilkington 58, who was sent a letter saying he was to lose his Employment and Support Allowance, which he got after a long-term illness.
Edward Jacques 47 who took a fatal overdose after his benefit payments were stopped.
Richard Sanderson 44 who stabbed himself in the heart.
Jacqueline Harris 53, oormer nurse, found dead at her home, after taking an overdose of medication after being pronounced fit for work.
It seems targetting the vulnerable is now this Governments bloodsport of choice, using an unfair target driven culture, it seems also that the management of ATOS are pressuring assessors to fail many claimants and deny them the benefits that they depend on and entitled to, in a heartles, incompassinate manner. Also it seems to me that the Government and Atos are being aided and abetted at the moment by the media, assisting them with a negative portrayal of the sick and disabled, distorting and misrepresenting us. Pitting the poor against one another, while at the same time slashing taxes for banks, corporate giants and the richest people in Britain, the sale of their hypocricy is staggering.
In July 2013, ATOS whistleblower Dr Greg Wood lifted the lid on the horrible culture that existed within the organisation - carrying out assessments that are simply not fit for purpose, I personally know of people who have not been assessed by humans, but by computer, and just waiting for a decision adds to an already very stressfuli existence, and contributes unessesssary burden.
The Government seems to carry on regardless and like ATOS simply don't give a toss, if ATOS were really doing their job correctly they would have declared Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith unfit to do the job that he is supposed to be doing. I personally have been assessed declared fit for work, appealed won, moved into a support group where I have not seen anyone for over a year, and now have to undertake the whole gruelling process again. G.Ps medical reports are routinely ignored, simply the whole rotting procedure stinks. The scale of anxiety caused is immense.
ATOS's cruel insensitive tratment of vulnerable and ill people is utterly reprhensible and should not be allowed to continue, the appeal process which many people are winning is costly and unaffordable.
It is time this despicable company had its contract withdrawn and the Government started to put people before profit, that assesses people in a fair and dignified manner.
Please join me in one of the many demonstations that are taking place across the country and show some solidarity.
Details of where they are taking place can be found here :-
http://ukrebellion.com/atosdemo
https://www.facebook.com/ATOSNationalDemo
I am based in West Wales, and hope to head over to Carmarthen and attend the event there.
https://www.facebook.com/events/416212641845306/permalink/416212708511966/
Dennis Skinner on ATOS
Tottaly agree and thank you for the info,i shall be attending and supporting this much needed protest whole heartedly!.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree and thankyou for that info.I shall be attending and supporting this protest at Carmarthen whole heartedly!
ReplyDeleteThanks.....for your support.
ReplyDeleteAt least Mark Williams M.P for Ceredigion, has at least secured a debate on the subject. It will be interesting to see what happens.
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