News

A US-based multinational computer firm previously mired in controversy over a troubled NHS IT programme is accused by the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) of stoking a dispute on its new defence contract.



Problems surrounding the NHS National Programme for IT led to Computer Science Corp's (CSC) involvement being significantly stripped back and the company reportedly writing off $1.5 billion of investment.



Now the union's members who work for CSC on a key contract administering pay and pensions for the Ministry of Defence have voted overwhelmingly to strike over a derisory 0.5% pay offer and the firm's refusal to allow some staff to be properly represented by their union.



In a ballot of the union's 300 SPVA members, 92.5% voted for a strike and almost 98% voted for other forms of industrial action, on a 58% turnout.



Despite the NHS controversy, CSC took over the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) contract from Hewlett Packard last November.



The union wrote to the MoD at the time expressing concern over CSC's poor track record and saying that, as the lowest bidder, it would be impossible for CSC to make a profit without significantly cutting costs.



PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Our members are proud of the work they do and the service they provide, but they should not be expected to sacrifice their own living standards simply to make greater profits for this company.



"This overwhelming vote is a clear call to CSC to come back to the negotiating table with a sensible offer or face damaging industrial action."