UK Workfare Newswire Archive
DWP Locks Down Freedom of Information Responses to Hide Workfare Lies
29-02-2012 18:02
Today's victory is only the beginning in the struggle against workfare. The following aims to show how the Government are attempting to hide the existence of other workfare schemes.UK-wide day of action against workfare – Saturday 3rd March
18-02-2012 22:49
In solidarity with Liverpool Uncut’s action against workfare on Saturday 3rd March, Boycott Workfare has called a national day of action against workfare. There’s already actions planned in Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Leeds, Sheffield and Tunbridge Wells (with Glasgow, Lincoln, Notts and others planning!). Why not visit your high street as well?
Workfare demo shuts Westminster Tesco
18-02-2012 12:55
Right to Work and unemployed activists and supporters occupied Westminster Tesco on Saturday. Police issued warning over trespass and refused to answer why they weren’t arresting Tesco bosses for breaching minimum wage legislation. Defiant protesters demanded that Tesco withdraw immediately from all government schemes that force slave labour on the disabled and unemployed chanting: Tesco bosses hear us say, we won’t work if you won’t pay. And ‘first they stole our ema, now they want to steal our pay’.
Pics: http://www.demotix.com/news/1059514/workfare-protesters-close-westminster-tesco-london
Some background and organising: http://www.boycottworkfare.org
The new social workhouse? Workfare, the labour market, prison
http://libcom.org/blog/new-social-workhouse-16022012
Supermarket giant Tesco must know no shame. As unemployment blights the lives of millions, Britain’s biggest private sector employer is taking on staff — for free.
This is part of the scandal of “workfare” — making people work unpaid or face being thrown off benefits.
Tesco reports that over the past four months some 1,400 people have worked for them without pay. Only 300 got a job with the company.
The Tory government is slashing jobs and then punishing the jobless. And to add insult to injury, they are forcing people to work for free to boost profits for big business.
Activists promised that the campaign by Right to Work and other anti workfare groups would continue their action, shutting tesco stores down until they withdraw from the scheme and the government drops its slave labour schemes and replaces them with real jobs and training.
Right to Work is calling for a day of action against Tesco stores on Wednesday 22nd February and will also be supporting the national day of action called by Boycott Workfare on 3 march.
As well as taking the fight to the Government when the next unemployment figures are released on March 14 with a Mass Dole queue at the DWP offices in Westminster.
http://righttowork.org.uk/2012/02/right-to-work-occupy-westminster-tesco/
March 3rd London Info:
Meet outside BHS on Oxford Street, 11:30am
http://www.facebook.com/events/168924943221854/
Flyer: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/3rd-March-london-leaflet.pdf
Boycott Workfare National Day of Action, 3rd March, Poundland Picket
18-02-2012 10:16
Picket & Demonstration outside Poundland, on Union Street in Birmingham City Centre calling for them to withdraw from workfare schemes. If they have withdrawn before the 3rd of March, we will picket Tesco on New Street instead. If Tesco have withdrawn make sure you check here to see who else remains.Tesco’s Secret Workfare Slaves
16-02-2012 17:05
Furious shoppers are threatening to boycott Tesco after their use of forced labour schemes came to light yesterday.Boycott Workfare meeting in Kings Heath, 7th March
12-02-2012 15:44
Poundland and Asda are just two of the high street names using unpaid labour sent on mandatory "work experience" placements from the job centre. These placements are full time, and can last for up to 6 months. Meanwhile, people are finding hours cut or paid jobs lost, as companies use people on workfare schemes for free.Why We’re Supporting Boycott Workfare Campaign In Birmingham
20-01-2012 16:59
Since the beginning of the year, Birmingham Trades Council and Brighton GMB Branch have signed the pledge to Boycott Workfare. The campaign also has the support of Birmingham Against Cuts who have written this statement…Workfare to be challenged in the courts.
26-11-2011 13:49
Legal Challenge to Government’s slave labour scheme
18-11-2011 03:07
Take action against companies profiting from workfare!
06-10-2011 10:12
1pm, Wed 19th October 2011 outside the annual Welfare to Work Conference at the Business Design Centre, Upper Street, Islington, N1 0HQBenefiting from workfare - 'It's exploitation and it's repellent'
27-09-2011 11:41
TK Maxx, Wilkinsons, Savers and Matalan have been named as major retailers where unemployed people are being sent to work without pay. Since our article last month[1] exposing Tesco, Primark and other multinationals taking unpaid work placements, various people have contacted Corporate Watch describing their own experiences of being sent to major retailers, as well as councils and charities, to do similar work to that of salaried staff while receiving only £67.50 a week in Jobseekers' Allowance.Workfare Unravels
09-06-2011 14:12
Workfare, the government’s forced labour scheme, could be the latest policy to unravel as encouraging momentum builds against the proposed reform of the welfare system.Success! Workfare conference cancelled due to protest
07-06-2011 17:19
Workfare Enquiry
16-05-2011 07:19
This is a questionnaire for benefits claimants in the UK who have been forced onto work for your benefit schemes. It will be used as an organising tool by campaigns opposedto the scheme.GMB Union Promotes Workfare as Answer.
15-05-2011 20:55
The Leadership of the GMB Union selling out their own members and the public that have supported their anti-cuts stanceProject Work - the original workfare scheme
18-04-2011 00:03
A group for those who have experienced Project Work in MedwayAnti-cuts, anti-workfare - IWW film night and discussion - this Saturday night!
29-09-2010 19:48
Plotting and scheming for Welfare not Workfare
04-12-2009 01:02
On 12 November, it became legal to force unemployed people to work for their benefits – to do 40-hour-weeks for under a third of the minimum wage. The Government's Welfare Reform Act introduced 'Work for your Benefit' pilot schemes, which once completed can be rolled out without any further debate. It also attacked single parents – who face sanctions if they fail to prepare for work outside the home as soon as their child turns three – and people with impairments, disabilities or severe and enduring illnesses.U.S style Workfare coming to the U.K...
23-07-2008 11:51
The 'Workhouse' comes closer…Yet another Welfare Green Paper will mean cheap labour, reducing costs, a Victorian notion of the ‘undeserving poor’ and creating a new market off the the backs of some of the most vulnerable in the UK,
