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Welfare

BBC’s Anti-Welfare State Programmes Attacked.

Posted by Andrew Coates | Posted in BBC, Cuts, Liberal Tory Coalition, TV Shows on Unemployed, unemployment, Welfare, Welfare Reform, Welfare State, Work Programme, Workfare | Posted on 29-10-2011

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“We are outraged that the BBC is joining the propaganda war aimed at destroying the welfare state, Britain’s most civilised and civilising legacy (Last night’s TV, G2, 28 October). In the 1940s, after years of depression and slaughter, working-class people who had sacrificed so much felt entitled to a life without the constant threat of war and poverty. Family allowance, income support, unemployment and housing benefits, disability benefits, a state pension, the NHS and free education have assumed that everyone contributed and deserved to be looked after “from the cradle to the grave”.”

Selma James Global Women’s Strike
John McDonnell, MP
Mark Serwotka General secretary, PCS
Bob Crow General secretary, RMT
Nina López Legal Action for Women
Kim Sparrow Single Mothers’ Self-Defence
Claire Glasman WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities)
Marie Lynam Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group
Prof Peter Beresford Chair, Shaping Our Lives
Noel Lynch Chair, London Green Party
Dave Skull Mad Pride
Johnny Void Benefit Claimants Fightback
Sam Weinstein Member of Utility Workers Union of America
Alan Wheatley Green Party Trade Union Group
Joanna Long Boycott Workfare
Anne-Marie O’Reilly London Coalition Against Poverty 

More in the Guardian Saturday Here.

For the well-expressed views of one of our readers see this.

See also Left Foot Forward – here.

The BBC has also sent its well-paid staff to produce this:

Panorama Special(Documentary) Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 on BBC 1 from 8:00pm to 9:00pm 

Britain on the Fiddle.

It’s estimated that twenty-two billion pounds of taxpayers’ money is effectively stolen or lost every year through fraud and error – a sizeable chunk of that is benefit fraud – money that could end up being taken out of the pockets of those in genuine need. In this Panorama Special, Richard Bilton uses undercover cameras to expose people on benefits sailing yachts and driving Bentleys. And he follows fraud investigators as they tackle the rising tide of benefits cheats using fake identities to steal millions.


Defend Welfare Gathering. Get Campaigning!

Posted by Andrew Coates | Posted in ATOS, Campaigns, Campaigns for Unemployed, Cuts, Welfare, Work Programme | Posted on 09-10-2011

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Defend Welfare Gathering.

Sunday 23rd October, 11am-5pm
Somers Town Community Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, London, NW1 1EE
(5 minutes walk from Euston, St Pancras and Kings Cross stations)
Wheelchair accessible

Join us for a meeting with like-minded people to share ideas and strategise to stop the government’s attacks on welfare.

Welfare is being systematically attacked:

  • Unemployed people are being forced to work without pay.
  • Disabled people are being deprived of their entitlement to benefits through the devastating Work Capability Assessment process.
  • People can now be left destitute for up to two years through benefit sanctions.
  • The right to housing is under attack: Housing benefit cuts are set to make thousands homeless. The right-wing called for evictions in response to the riots, even before courts had found people guilty.
  • Private companies stand to make millions through bullying claimants on the Work Programme.
  • Legal aid cuts make it harder to challenge bad treatment.
  • The only benefit that was available to people under 18 – EMA – has been abolished by this government.
  • Single mothers are being forced to be job-seekers when their children are at an even younger age.
  • Asylum seekers are forced to survive on incomes far below benefit levels, which are already set at subsistence level.
  • The full impact that the Universal Credit will have is yet to be understood.

But people across the UK are organising to defend welfare. The Boycott Workfare campaign recently forced the “Making Work Pay” conference to relocate at short notice. Atos, the private company responsible for depriving hundreds of thousands of people of sickness benefits, has had many of its offices occupied, costing it thousands of pounds. Claimants are sharing information on how to challenge the bullying and discrimination that is rife in the new set-up.

This gathering is open to everyone who wants to take action to defend welfare.
We are a claimant-led network – our response to welfare reforms is led by people who feel their effects the most – but the attacks on welfare will affect us all whether we are in work or may need welfare as parents, if we become unemployed, due to sickness or disability, or as pensioners.

We plan to run the day with lots of discussion and chances to share ideas and information in workshops and an open space session where we can set the agenda on the day. If you can offer a workshop or would like to propose something for the agenda, please get in touch.

Ipswich Unemployed Action welcomes any such initiatives.

It would be a good idea if the TUC, which is hosting a ‘Poverty’ conference next week, actually did some campaiging about welfare reform instead of organising meetings with well-meaning charities.

We are unable to attend – getting to and from London on a Sunday by train is a nightmare. On Sundays there are permanent engineering works on the line, and we would prefer to have a hornet’s nest in our throat, or a daily meeting with Emma Harrison, than go through that – again.


Unemployment: the public verdict

Posted by Work Programme | Posted in 1984, authoritarian, benefit claimants, benefit fraud, benefit system, benefits, benefits reform, benefits system, bigotry, brain dead, business, civil liberties, class war, couples, daft ideas, employment, Equality, families, family, fascism, forced labour, fraud, GovYou, Inequality, Job centre, Jobs, jobseekers, jobseekers allowance, memphasis, minimum wage, misinformed ranting, moar paperwork, moronic, national insurance, National Service, New Deal, pensions, personal opinion, perverse incentives, Regional Minimum Wage, save money, scape goating, scrap new deal, slavery, subsistence wage, tax, Tax Credits, The Poor Law 1834, uneconomic, Unemployed, unemployment, victimisation, Welfare, Welfare Reform, work | Posted on 05-07-2011

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Many people have different views on unemployment, welfare and the like, the Work Programme Network is going to highlight a few random views in regards to welfare reform on site GovYou:- 1- Abolish The Jobseekers’ Act 1995 The idea This is a very nasty, vindictive, scapegoating law, copying previous ideas that didn’t work and it’s [...]

National Day of Protest Against Welfare and Housing Benefit Cuts.

Posted by Andrew Coates | Posted in Campaigns for Unemployed, Cuts, Flexible New Deal, Protest, unemployment, Welfare, Welfare Reform | Posted on 06-12-2010

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Take action now to defend the Welfare State. We will not pay for their crisis.

The National Day of Protest Against Welfare & Housing Benefit Cuts on 15th December 2010 aims to be the first of many and this time will concentrate on the Housing Benefit cuts. With this in mind, why not organise a sit in, protest or demonstration in your local Civic Centre, Housing Benefit Office or Town Hall.

Think Christmas party. Gather up some f…riends, take a ticket and bring cake, food to share, Christmas decorations, crackers, music and presents for the kids. Why not apply for Council Housing whilst you’re at it, ask for information about impending homelessness due to the cuts or clear up that nagging benefit issue. Then collect contact details to organise a bigger event in the New Year and spread some festive cheer.

Make sure to support people present who are in emergency need of help to access it and make sure they are treated properly. There’s no rush after all, you can easily stay late, or even all night. It’s Christmas after all.

Alternatively hold a public meeting, organise an info stall or even just leaflet your local Council offices. If you are organising an event please contact us asap to be added to the facebook page (and upcoming website).

London benefit claimants will be attending and supporting the Housing Emergency Demonstration at Downing Street, 12.30pm. Bring cardboard boxes, sleeping bags etc and create a cardboard city opposite Downing Street. then onto Trafalgar Square at 3pm for Christmas fun under the tree.

http://disabledpeopleprotest.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/housing-emergency-coalition-a-call-to-action-15th-december/

Local groups, individuals, ideas and support needed, please get in touch.

This is just the beginning, further actions and events are planned for the New Year.

latest

London confirmed – 15th December

12.30 Downing Street, Housing Emergency Coalition protest, take cardboard boxes and sleeping bags

3pm Trafalgar Square, Disabled People Against Cuts – No Room at The Inn nativity under the tree.

Norwich confirmed – 15th December – Defend Council Housing And Fight The Welfare Cuts Public Meeting – Belvedere Centre, Belvoir Street, Norwich, 15th Dec 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

Plans afoot so far in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Brighton, Hastings, Stoke, Lewisham, Lydney and Nuneaton

Actions called for/enquired about in Bristol, Southampton, Cambridge, Hackney, Lincolnshire, Exeter & Ipswich

Called by autonomous benefit claimants around the UK.

National Day of Protest Against Welfare & Housing Benefit Cuts: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Day-of-Protest-Against-Welfare-Housing-Benefit-Cuts/106945382710717

Disabled People Against Cuts: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=121196194603310

Black Triangle – Anti-Defamation Campaign In Defence of Disabled Claimants: http://www.facebook.com/blacktriangle1

Work Programme & Flexible New Deal Scandal: http://www.workprogramme.org.uk/

Benefit Claimants Fight Back: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116432071735566


Work Trials:Another Racket.

Posted by Andrew Coates | Posted in Flexible New Deal, jobseekers allowance, unemployment, Welfare, Welfare Reform, Work Trial | Posted on 18-09-2010

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Work Trails are some of the remnants of the last government’s hare-brained schemes for the unemployed. A work trial means placing someone in a job they normally would not apply for.  You work for an alloted time, up to thirty days, under high surveillance.  There is no extra payment – the employer gets labour for free.

It is becoming clear that while the present government dithers over its plans for the out-of-work ‘providers’ are pushing this scheme – down out throats.

Panny Panayiotou explains what this means.

This is how it works; A person on Job Seeker’s Allowance is presented with the opportunity to work for a company on what can be a full time basis (anywhere up to 40 hours) and will be paid in benefits, rather than with an actual wage. If, at the end of those three weeks, the employer or employee wishes to terminate the job, then the difficult search continues for the employee.

The scheme is open on a voluntary basis and is supposed to give the prospective worker the freedom to not take on a job they don’t like, however the reality of this scheme is very different indeed.

At a time when unemployment is high, it is a fallacy to believe that anyone would not take a work trial if offered. After all, a job search in the present climate is likely to be long, hard and desperate. As well as this, the unemployed have to report back on their job searches weekly and if their search is found to be insufficient, then benefits can be held back for a week.

If someone were to reject a work trial, it could be interpreted as a wilful act to avoid future jobs and this can be held against them.

In other words it’s similar to workfare (no real pay for work), and is about as ‘voluntary’ as the Mafia’s offers. It’s clearly a means of disciplining claimants. For what end? As I began above:: into taking work they would not normally (or suitably, or appropriately) accept.

More from  Suite101 Here.

Example (names removed):

 I wonder if anyone can help me out. I applied for a job at a supermarket, and they got back in touch a few weeks ago to say that all candidates have to complete a three week work trial before they would be interviewed.
The date for the trial is over the christmas and new year period, we will be interviewed in January.
I’d always assumed that work trials were voluntary and could be terminated at any time; by either side, but I have been asked to sign a form committing to the three weeks.
The Jobcentre have informed me it is my interests to do so, but to wait for an interview seems harsh.:confused:

I have a personal interest in this: it has been suggested to me that I try a “work trial” as a cleaner and general skivvy.



Wordpress.com blogs for 'Welfare'

Ipswich Unemployed Action comments...

  • Comment on Workfare workers are employees of the Crown? by Scouser
    local poundland has a junkie geezer on the door - got "workfare" written all over his slashed up face.
  • Comment on Brighton Campaign Victory On Poundland Workfare Placements. by Work Programme
    <blockquote>Within a short time a whole group of Poundland employees were standing just inside the doors either joining in or listening as we explained how exploitation of the unemployed as free labour is an attack on those in work as well as those without, and that all work should be properly paid.</blockquote> How do you know they aren't workfare slaves?!
  • Comment on Why did Waterstones end workfare at its stores? by Wayne green
    Would just like to say wel done on the action u took at brighton poundland . Could I just suggest that u write to all the top insurance companys and explain that all them that are unemployed are being forced to go and do the free labour as I dont belive that they understand thats the case and belive that we are all volunteers and we aint we being forced .i was forced to do free labour at local football club when I asked who was insuring me to be there as im being forced to be here the guy said I phone our insurance company and they said no im not insured due to am not an employee aint a volunteer or any way involved with said placment also no health and saftey was given there they are breaking the law as everybody that takes up work by law should have a test and by somebody thats fully quilified in health and saftey not just who u see on day one they breaking the law not doing it .i say if more people that are forced to do unpaid work MAKE SURE U SEE OR GET THEM TO RING INSURANCE COMPANY IN FRONT U TO MAKE SURE U INSURED AND TO DEMAND TO SEE THAT THE PERSON WHO IF U LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A HEALTH AND SAFTEY THAT THEY ARE QUILIFIED TO GIVE U A HEALTH AND SAFTEY AS ONLY THOSE IN LAW CAN DO THIS ALSO JOIN A UNION COST 81P A WK THAT WAY U WIL HAVE SUM BODY ON YOUR SIDE TO FIGHT YOUR CORNER . Also when u finish your free labour u should make out a bill to said employer for work rendered and if dont pay take to small claims court 99. 999 of the time the employer wil not turn up to court ending in u winning the case as they dont want the bad publicity to affect there business .
  • Comment on Workfare workers are employees of the Crown? by Tobanem
    The latest major threat to Trade Unions is the tory-led TURC campaign. It means Trade Union Reform Campaign - which means the Tories want to outlaw the Unions! There might not be any Trade Unions left if TURC triumphs! Even if Trade Unions survive the TURC attack, I don't see much point in unemployed people joining a trade union when some unions are advocating Workfare! Not much unity in that, is there? Back in the Thatcher era, the Unions scuppered the "training" schemes for the unemployed by vigorously demanding these schemes be "surplus to requirements" - so as not to threaten the employment prospects of existing union members. Nowadays, it should be up to the unions and their current gainfully employed members whose future pay and conditions will be inevitably threatened by Workfare schemes to take a firm stand against the increasing use of wageless Workfare by a desperate Government as a cheap solution to unemployment. If Trade Unions allow Workfare into the workplace in the first place, any unemployed person joining a union under these conditions will be akin to bolting the barn door after the horse has bolted.
  • Comment on Workfare workers are employees of the Crown? by Mr No
    I'm personally a little sceptical about joining any club, be it a union or otherwise. Will they represent the average joe public alleged 'scrounger' when they are exploited for whatever period the dwp lets the provider deem a suitable punitive measure? In theory, but what about the practice? It's almost too big an issue. Join the union, they can see that this is one big scam, right? And they'll throw everything they've got at it for the few (yes, few) who stumped up a few quid? Maybe? And maybe I'm seeing this all wrong. They just speak up, raise awareness a little. Make noises? Are they what they used to be? I must take time to study. I've never had a direct enough experience of unions to really make any bold claims about such. This is simply my somewhat currently naive thoughts. A union can represent its members and have a knock on effect for the rest if they indeed can make much of a positive difference in todays rather bizarre climate. All the unions have probably had their true powers corrupted by corrupt power, they're probably told where their line is. Cynical perhaps? Truly hope so! Just my own instincts tell me it's a nice idea, maybe worth it? But at the end of the day my unemployment and the issues it may cause me, really has to be dealt with by me! Me, at the sharp end. On this side of the desk, having to duel with language with whoever is on that side of the desk. Having to watch every damn (and potentially damning!) word that may spill forth from my gob. Having to put up with all the bullshit, just to survive. And that's when you aren't doing anything wrong! An actual genuine claimant, doing ones best, but just doesn't like being treated like shit. Gosh, really? Yeah! Really. For the right wing readers... Yes, that's simply our issue. Simply! If only! My f**king mantra is going to be 'there are no f**king jobs!' Of course, one will leave out the swearing. However tempting. And before they even utter 'There are plenty of jobs out there and I simply must be doing something wrong', obviously because I am deemed as thick as shit by some moron adviser, I will swiftly add to 'there are no jobs' a rather honest and plausible 'that are suitable for me'. My f**king terms! Crown employee or state slave? I don't care. I'm me. Doing what's right. But unless you are a stubborn b*stard who doesn't take sh*t then stay calm, do your best. I cannot really afford 81p a day, nor 50p for the other union. Or did I imagine the other one? Hmmm? Take care people. Just 'aving a late night ramble.
  • Comment on Workfare workers are employees of the Crown? by Luther
    Don't think I'll be giving any money to Unison whilst they fund a Labour party that supports workfare. We need our own union.
  • Comment on Workfare workers are employees of the Crown? by workethic89
    Reblogged this on <a href="http://workethic89.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/45/" rel="nofollow">Brighter Future</a> and commented: Very good information RE Work Experience, Manditory Work Activity and the Work Programme.
  • Comment on Workfare workers are employees of the Crown? by ariversideview
    As a Union hating Tory I agree with this post and I think that regestering with Unison for your 6 month stint of work activity is a good idea. Also as these companies don't need to fill the vacancies filled by those on Work Activity and Work Experience schemes they are being subsidised by the state. Why should the state be subsidusing multnational companies?
  • Comment on Boycott Work Programme. by The Guardian
    Top five regrets of the dying A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the top ones is <b>'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'</b>. What would your biggest regret be if this was your last day of life? There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top, from men in particular, is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'. Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. "When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently," she says, "common themes surfaced again and again." Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware: 1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. "This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it." <b>2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard. "This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence."</b> 3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. "Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result." 4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. "Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying." 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. "This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again." Full article <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying" rel="nofollow">here</a> .
  • Comment on Cait Reilly, ‘What a Snooty So-and-So” says Ian Duncan Smith. by Wayne green
    In reply to andrew coates . There aint one immagrant on the work programme that im on and excuse me I speak 4 many people who say why the fuck do they have a council house and we ave lived here all our life and aint got one . And yes send em home then there be work for us english and stop free labour then employers would have to take paid labour , I take it that u so far up immagrants arses u must be married to one of them c--ts

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