Norwich-A group of around 25 activists from a broad colition of Anarchists,Socialists,Greens ,Trade Unionists and local people, including a vocal member of Unities' Cambridge branch today protested today against the governments workfare program, which forces jobseekers to work up to eight weeks unpaided and without receiving the minimum wage of £6.19 an hour.

The series of chants against the scheme started at Topshop, including demands of "A fair days pay, for a fair days work", leaflets where handed out and conversations with members of the public where held, including one who increasingly raised his voice then stormed off.

It wasn't long before two PCSOs came along to see what the protest, which have been held once a month , was about, and demanded we stop blocking the entrance, and one member explained the aim of the protests, and stated there was no blockade of the store, which was ignored by one community officer, who stated that stopping people from shopping, also ignoring the large space in which customers where flowing in and out from, was immoral, which lead to a few amusing remarks about Topshop activties, including tax evasion, the officers soon left, after talking to members of staff, during with a large member of the public avoided the space, and made a beeline for one of the smallest male protesters in the line and barged hard him to one side with his body.
The protest then moved to Primark, and next to some young buskers, who tried not to compete with each other in terms of noise and time, and a mini party atmosphe was created by their performance of "No women, No cry" and a sing along, to the amusement of passers by.

Fun time over, The protesters then huddled for a round of consensus, in which it was decided unanimously for all protesters to enter the store, and talk to a manger about the scheme and Primarks involvement within it. Upon entering the store, an attempt was made by well built males to stop filming of the activists, and threats were made to take phones by force, one male later identified himself as a plan clothes security officer, while the other plan clothes officers and one uniformed looked on.

While we tried talked to them about their wages and how they felt, a member of staff was found who claimed that the Norwich branch of Primark off Gentlemans walk didn't use jobseekers for unpaid work or the workfare program.

Spirited by this news, they left chanting, and one young enthusiastic female activist threw her leaflets into the air in joy, from there, the protest moved to McDonalds, where Horsemeat jokes and another round of chants were held, and relaxed conversation with the public ended a good day of action

The next demo will be held on the 23rd of March at Haymarket,Norwich at 13.00.