It seems as though my messages aren't getting through so I'll try again.

In defence of the comments about Best.

Yes we are members of ATSCO (as are agencies that total about 45% of the total UK marketplace) but we don't support IR35 in any way. In fact we are one of only a handful of companies that are able to provide a project based contract that as far it can be is "IR35 proof". It amazes me that the government seem to have managed to get contractors and agents fighting each other when we should be working together.

Gavin

-----Original Message----- From: MJ Ray [SMTP:markj@cloaked.freeserve.co.uk] Sent: 28 November 2001 11:15 To: laurie@brownowl.com Cc: Gavin Smith; ALUG List Subject: Re: [Alug] How to find people with Linux skills

Laurie wrote:

...

You may (perhaps fairly) think it's a bit harsh, but this is at least the third time he's done this, and I've asked him to stop twice (which he both failed to acknowledge, and ignored). Especially given its precedents, it *is* spam, however relevant it may be to any particular reader.

Laurie, this email was more of a grey area than previous messages, not being a "we've got this job" but a "where should we advertise". Of course, you could still count it as sneaky advertising, as most of the email is occupied by their contact details in a non-signature footer, but it can't really be classed as "spam"/UCE. However, what we saw was you stomping in there with the big boots on and threatening them on-list for what appeared an innocent message. No explanation of why you classed it as spam was given.

Please, everyone, if you suspect something of being spam, please contact the three of us at main-admin@lists.alug.org.uk and *we'll* get the big boots on. If you dislike our decision, *then* you can post to the list bitching about our decision and we'll back down if your opinion is the majority one.

I'm inclined to accept job adverts etc into announce@lists.alug.org.uk, mainly through the absence of any other material. Would people agree to that, as long as tough guidelines (eg no sigs, under a certain length, once per issue max) were set?

...

Further, Best International are members of ATSCO, and as any member of the PCG knows, not only supporters of IR35, but as members of ATSCO, they are acting in the worst interests of contractors (qv. statements from the ATSCO chairman passim). A cruise through the private fora in the PCG will show that Best are in fact misnamed... Consequently, I am unable to find any room for compromise.

Now this *is* interesting. I also dislike ATSCO because of their handling of this (even if I think that I broadly agree with the spirit (but not the letter) of IR35) and I think the only honourable thing for any member to do is to either resign or go on record with an open letter objecting to their handling of the affair. -- MJR Anglian LUG http://www.alug.org.uk/ No ePatents http://petition.eurolinux.org/ FSF Europe http://www.fsfeurope.org/

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