Saturday 30 June 2012

National Week of Action Against Workfare | 7-14th July



 
Liverpool claimants, the Solidarity Federation, the Anarchist Federation and various activist groups have organized 6 actions in the build-up to the National Week of Action Against Workfare. These actions have targeted companies who are using forced unpaid labour, such as Holland & Barrett, Asda & Argos; and one of the main implementers of the Work Programme, A4e. The National Week of Action Against Workfare will see a series of pickets/communication blockades in Liverpool demanding companies stop using Workfare; many of these pickets will be in tandem with actions around the UK.

See the Boycott Workfare press release, below, to find out what you can do and what’s going on in your area during the National Week of Action:

The Queen's Jubilee has seen the disgrace of exploiting the unemployed through workfare. The ‘ethical’ company Holland & Barrett who are due to be signed up to 1100 workfare places will receive its deserved focus of this week of action. Up and down the country groups will been taking action against workfare providers – A4E, Maximus, Reed etc… including those who have signed up on workfare – Holland & Barrett, Tesco, Shoe Zone etc…

Join us and take part in fun and creative actions against workfare.

What can you do?

Join up with your local groups – anti-cuts groups, claimants groups, trade unions and other organisations campaigning against workfare!

Organise a workfare walk of shame on your high street. See a video and how to guide here: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=896

Come to our workfare counter-conference on 10th July in Birmingham from 10am – 5.30pm at the Unite Building, Transport House, 211 Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1AY (Disability access provided)

Do some sleuthing! Help find out where workfare is taking place on your high street: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=1017

Know your rights! Leaflet at your local job centre or work programme provider to let people know their rights. Download the latest leaflet here: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=280

Be creative! People have dressed as chain gangs, occupied shops that use workfare, encouraged customers to turn away, delivered a “bullshit detector” to workfare thinktanks, organised a farewell party for A4e and more…

Contact us! Let us know what you’re planning on the Facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/events/481490495199880/ or email info@boycottworkfare.org or tweet to @boycottworkfare

These actions have been announced so far:

Birmingham – Join our workfare counter-conference on 10th July in Birmingham from 10am – 5.30pm at the Unite Building, Transport House, 211 Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1AY (Disability access provided).

Brighton – 11am 7th July – Workfare walk of shame.

Hastings – 11.30am 7th July Station Plaza.

Leeds – Planning page for the week of action, with workfare walks of shame on Wednesday and Thursday.

Liverpool – Weekly pickets throughout June and the National Week of Action Against Workfare.

London – 12 noon, near Goodge Street station.

York – Fountain Parliament Square 1pm 7th July.

Poole – 1pm 7th July – Kingland Crescent Holland and Barrett.

South West – July 7th will see our campaign take to the streets of Bristol again. The following week will see a variety of action across the region. We currently have news of pickets of workfare providers taking place in Bath, Yate, Wells, Stroud, Swindon and again in Bristol. More details to follow.

You may want to find out more information about workfare providers and those who have signed up to it here: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?page_id=16
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