Anti workfare demo tomorrow/ ACE news

TOMORROW SAT 31ST MARCH - ACTION TO STOP WORKFARE

Britain-wide day of action against forced unpaid labour....

MEET 12 NOON KIRKGATE SHOPPING CENTRE, FOOT OF LEITH WALK

To take action at companies and charities still using workfare conscripts
- we say to those companies and charities still involved in this rip-off –
stop now!

All welcome, bring banners, placards, whistles, drums....

Organised by Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty

more info below...

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ALSO TOMORROW SATURDAY 31ST - ACE DEFINITELY OPEN 12 - 3.30/4PM
We definitely have volunteers in place for tomorrow 12 - 3.30pm, and
probably on till 4pm...
So do call in by ACE for your zapatista coffee, latest issue of Freedom,
to access the amazing Scottish Radical Library, free internet, buy some
wholefoods, have a cup of tea....

On which point, if you can help staff ace, please contact us on
ace@autonomous.org.uk or via acetalk list, thanks

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ACE MONTHLY MEETING THIS COMING WED 4TH 7.30pm

All welcome to this important monthly meeting, ACE needs you to survive
and thrive, our finances are pretty "challenged" right now so we really
need some help with fundraising ideas and activity....meetings are
informal and friendly, hope to see you there

(meetings always first wed of the month, 7.30pm)

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More on anti workfare demo, this activity is ongoing if interested contact
ECAP at ecap@lists.riseup.net

Demonstrators set to besiege “Slave labour” companies

This Saturday 31st March “anti workfare” demonstrators will take to the
streets in Edinburgh .  They aim to besiege businesses and charities who
have refused to pull out of the Government’s controversial compulsory
“work-for-your-benefits” schemes.  A similar protest on 3rd March saw
police struggling to clear demonstrators who invaded two Tescos stores on
the Bridges.

The demonstration, called by Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty and
supported by many groups, condemns “slave labour” and states that these
schemes “attack all workers wages and conditions.”  Opposition to workfare
has grown and major companies and charities such as TK Maxx, BHS, HMV,
Sainsburys, Waterstones, Boots, Oxfam, Marie Curie, Shelter and several
more have all announced their withdrawal from the schemes.

ECAP spokesperson Ethel McDonald said: “More and more people see the
injustice of forcing people to work for nothing.  Many employers have
pulled out, but we warn those who persist in using slave labour – if you
exploit us, we will shut you down.”  Companies in Edinburgh known to use
workfare include ASDA and Poundstretcher, while many unemployed people are
also forced to work in Edinburgh charity shops such as the British Heart
Foundation and Barnardos.

The demonstration in the capital is one of many round the UK on Saturday,
called by the Solidarity Federation and involving many groups in the
Boycott Workfare network.

DEMOS SET TO CONTINUE

There are several workfare schemes, including the Work Programme and
Mandatory Work Activity which potentially affect all unemployed people,
and Work Experience for young people.  They oblige unemployed people to
work for their benefits, or their benefits can be stopped.

“These schemes don't help the unemployed, “said Ethel McDonald of ECAP. 
“In fact they create more unemployment.  Employers are using the schemes
as free labour – using people then discarding them. What’s more the
schemes depress wages and worsen conditions for all workers.”

“Many people complain to us about the way they are treated by the private
companies that run the schemes for the government,” she continued.  “They
tell us that they are often bullied and treated with a complete lack of
respect.  But more and more unemployed people are joining us and standing
up for their rights.  We have won several battles with A4e and forced the
DWP to repay unemployed people whose benefits have been stopped. Recently
we have forced A4e to accept that claimants have the right to be
accompanied by the representative of their choice at their premises.”

A4e, which has multi million pound contracts with the DWP to run the Work
Programme, was the subject of a recent Newsnight programme alleging that
an A4e internal audit had concluded that their own reports to the DWP were
regularly either false or contained serious irregularities.  Five A4e
employees have been charged with fraud.

Saturday's demonstration is gathering at 12 noon at the Kirkgate shopping
centre at the foot of Leith Walk, and more actions are planned.  “We
invite all workers, unemployed, claimants, anyone who believes in justice,
to join us – we will be demonstrating until these exploiting schemes are
abolished,” emphasised Ethel McDonald.

CONTACT/ INFO

Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk  
ecap@lists.riseup.net

Boycott Workfare network          www.boycottworkfare.org