EARLIER this year, Job Centre and Benefit Office staff in Bolton went on strike over plans to remove security screens to make their workplaces 'user friendly' for claimants.

Union leaders claimed it would make them more vulnerable to abuse or assault. Although the dispute was settled, workers are still worried about their vulnerability to attack, says Clarissa Satchell

IF half your colleagues had suffered violence in the course of their daily job, would you want to go to work in the morning?

This is the reality that faces the men and women who work in Bolton's Job Centres and Benefit Office, according to new figures from their trade union.

The survey reveals that nearly half of Jobcentre, Benefit Office and Jobcentre Plus staff have been victims of violence at work.

The survey of 5,000 workers, commissioned by the Public and Commercial Services Union and Safetell Ltd, revealed that 49 per cent of those questioned had experienced violence in the last year.

The survey also found that 84 per cent of staff had witnessed violence in the workplace and 79 per cent of staff thought they were likely to be threatened in the last 12 months.

John Brookes, a North West co-ordinator for the union, said two security officers were recently assaulted in Bolton and abuse was a frequent occurence.

"It is very bad, particularly on the social security side. Workers face abuse and threats daily. In other department we've had people spitting at workers in the street," he said.

"The figures speak for themselves. Staff tend to have the attitude that they're going to get verbal abuse as a minimum in their jobs, and then possibly physical violence on top of that.

"This is not something you should have to deal with in your day-to-day work."

At the end of last year and the beginning of this yea, nearly 300 staff from the benefit agency in Back Spring Gardens and the employment office in Black Horse Street went on strike.

The issue was just that -- violence in the workplace, and proposals to get rid of protection screens when Jobcentres convert into more friendly and open Jobcentre Plus offices.

The new offices are coming in on a rolling Government programme and Bolton does not yet have a timescale for switching over.

A total 65,000 union members took more than 300,000 days of strike action between September 2001 and April 2002 -- the largest civil service dispute in 20 years.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said they were surprised that the union had published the survey.

"Six months ago, the department reached an amicable agreement with the union after a seven-month dispute over screens in Jobcentre Plus, a dispute during which the vast majority of staff in face-to-face contact with the public remained in work.

"The safety of staff and customers is our paramount concern and the key to safety in Jobcentre Plus is that we are actively managing the environment.

"We have carried out full risk assessments and implemented the union's recommendations, including installing CCTV and employing security guards who work with management to reduce tension and potential frustration in our offices.

"We have it made clear to the union that we want to work with them in this area and are very disappointed that they have not seen to work in collaboration with us."

But Mr Brooks said: "It was argued that the new Jobcentre Plus offices would be more friendly and lead to less violence, but the evidence shows there are just as many attacks.

"People are still concerned about safety. If you are serving people who have personal problems, are maybe drunk or on drugs, no matter how nice the environment their frustrations are inevitably going to result in some violence or abuse.

"This is clearly the view of our members and we will continue to work towards ensuring they have a safe working environment. I am not saying that all customers are violent or abusive, but workers need protection from those who are. They should not have to work in fear."

SURVEY RESULTS

Nearly half of those questioned (49 per cent) had experienced violence at work in the last year.

More than three quarters of staff working directly with the public had experienced violence.

84 per cent of staff had witnessed violence in the workplace.

28 per cent of staff thought they were likely to be assaulted in the next 12 months.

79 per cent of staff thought they were likely to be threatened in the next 12 months.

43 per cent of staff were worried about physical attack at work, rising to two thirds for those in constant contact with the public.