Black Flag 216 index
Reed Employment
Raw Deal
In October 98 claimants groups launched a campaign against Reed
Employment UK Ltd, which is administering the New Deal in the
Hackney and City area of London. The campaign aims to draw attention
to this systematic exploitation of the unemployed for corporate
profit and to deter other greedy private agencies from sticking
their noses in.
Between 30 and 50 of Reed's High Street offices were flyposted. The
posters were aimed at:
ùReed managers and staff, who seem to need reminding that their
actions in processing claimants for crap low paid jobs are not
without consequences.
ùOther agencies, who can look forward to similar treatment.
ùOrdinary members of the public, unaware of what Reed are up to.
In April last year, the Daily Telegraph reported that Reed had made
"14m profits the previous year. The Reed Family has a fortune of
"50m, but they don't feel they're rich enough yet. They tried to pay
the poor sods who administer the New Deal "3000 less a year than
the Employment Service. They are also scamming two fees for each
claimant placed - one from the government and one from the employer.
Haringey Solidarity Group and Hackney Claimants are calling this
nation-wide campaign against Reed. Claimants and workers in Brighton
are also about to launch a campaign there and dole workers in the
CPSA are trying to fight against the privatisation represented by
Reed. The campaign needs the support of groups throughout the
country in distributing leaflets outside Reed's offices, to try and
hit Reed where it hurts - in the pocket - and get them to pull out
of the New Deal.
Contact: HSG, PO Box 2474, London N8
Reed's Head Office, 6th Floor, Tolworth Tower, Tolworth, Surbiton;
Tel 0181-399 5221, fax 0181-390 8860