About 20,000 tax advisers will conduct walkouts and strikes on Monday due to alleged privatization. Workers in call centers and inquiry offices for tax returns will also conduct a similar strike on January 31, in line with the last day of online self-assessment returns.
According to the Public and Commercial Services Union, the strikes are done in opposition to the decision of the UK government in getting two private firms in conducting trail runs of handling calls and inquiries regarding tax returns.
The two firms who were enlisted in the test run were Sitel and Teleperformance.
However, the HMRC issued a statement saying that the information regarding outsourcing tax returns inquiry jobs is not true.
According to a spokesperson from the Revenue, “The project is not about outsourcing or replacing HMRC jobs. It is ultimately about finding ways to improve the service we provide to our customers.”
In light of this matter, Mark Serwotka who is the general secretary of the PCS said, “When jobs in HMRC and the civil service are being cut in their tens of thousands, it is entirely wrong to start handing contracts to private companies. Instead of privatising ever more of our public services, the government should be investing in its own staff to ensure they are equipped and trained to provide the essential services they are proud to deliver.”
The PCS is a biggest union of civil servants in the country. The organization insists that the trial runs will open up the doors of privatization of the tax office.
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