LEAN madness

Revenue and customs workers in North Wales, members of the PCS civil service union, are up in arms over instructions that they should only have one cup, pen or pencil on their desk and remove all personal items.

The move is the latest episode in management's attempts to introduce "LEAN" working into processing departments at the HM Revenue and Customs, alongside plans to cut 12,500 jobs. The scheme has already cost over £7 million to introduce, and led to a dispute and overtime ban involving 14,000 PCS members.