To be purple with rage over workfare

[HoneyandHaycorns]

Sorry, I know there are loads of related threads on here, but I am getting really, really really upset and angry about the fucking workfare programme. It's an absolute outrage that my taxes are funding slave labour to line the pockets of huge tax-avoiding corporations, while the most vulnerable in our society are having their lifelines snatched away from them one by one.

I want to voice my protest, but apart from writing to my MP (which I have done) what is the best way of fighting this crap?

I simply can't believe that anyone in a civilised society could possibly think this was a good idea. Why on earth would a private company ever create any new jobs if they can have government-funded slave labour for free?

Will someone please come and tell me why the fuck anybody other than the boss of tescos would conceivably think this was a good idea?

And if you can't tell me why it is a good idea, please tell me the best way to protest.

were not wee!

Custy I think I think luff you.

Workfare = fine if they employers are made to pay a wage. If there is a job there why the fuck should we pay for it?

Why should a workfare person be expected to do the same as someone in paid employment for less?

Pay them a wage on which they'll pay tax on.

I am completely against workfare.

It is being used as a tool to under mime the NMW and Workers rights.

I am amazed that some people cannot see this.

What is wrong with a fair days pay for a days work?
If work is there surely nmw is the least that should be paid?
Workfare goes against this, and forced labour is a violation of The Human Rights Act.

All people in favour of workfare are in favour of flouting human rights legislation, This is very bad indeed and has massive implications on society as a whole.

How much does the taxpayer pay Tesco per workfare serf?

(Apart from the benefit payments going to the victim of the scheme).

Are we also paying Tesco to provide/administer it, or do they just get the free labour?

They are our taxes, we all pay into the pot, and collectively, we should have some input into how they are spent. (though that is difficult when the election manifesto pledges are not in any way legally binding, and once in power, governments are free to introduce policies that were never mentioned to the electorate who voted for them.)

But what I don't get is why people get so upset about "their" taxes being given out to people who have fallen upon hard times, and yet the same people seem to be quite happy to hand over their hard-earned dosh to big companies which already make £££ of profit.

I'd do that job MIW and my DH would be very good at it. We are both punctual and reliable. During the bad weather last winter DH walked several miles so he could still get to work.

Neither of us can find a job (I have a part time one but need more hours). DH has only received replies from about 5% of his applications I haven't had a single reply to any of mine.

Unfortunately from your description of your area I suspect we are several hundred miles away.

Out of interest...how do WF recipients get paid?

Do they continue to get their benefits, with nothing disrupted?

Or do the employers give them a little cheque pat on the head at the end of the week?

ravenAK Iwould love to know more about that.
I see a FOI request coming along.

I suspect that the deal was done to benefit those at the top in a "private" deal.

Tories are worthy of all the smite directed at them,
What else can we throw other than words?

I don't live close enough to Shiny Dave or Gideon to flick a mooncup over him.

Another one interested in your job MIW.

I have a very naice numerate degree, tolerable spreadsheet skills but I learn fast and am happy to brush up in my own time, and have just been declared fully Fit to Work.

I'd love a "boring admin job", despite having worked in supposedly glamourous industries before I was ill.

Just a few snags. I'll have to do the work from bed or sofa. After 2 hours out of the house in a wheelchair I am completely exhausted and becoming ill, so meetings if required could be a bit tricky. Phone conversations I can do more of, but still tire me greatly.

I couldn't realistically offer accuracy for more than 2 hours a day max, as once the fatigue sets in, so do mistakes.

I'm unable to do such work at all in bad periods, which occur randomly and can last for weeks.

Would you employ me? I am fully Fit to Work and have been told to apply for JSA.

I advertise for quite a lot of "boring admin jobs". Typically receive 150-200 applications per post. All of the people I have employed in junior roles over the last couple of years have been massively overqualified. I wonder why MIW has been unable to attract suitable candidates.

people think on an individual level, its the thatcher culture isn't it.

people think in terms of my taxes not the nations budget.

the propaganda - the jeremy Kyle, the Sun and mudoch media areholes perpetuate these myths, conservatism that makes us forget who is at fault, and perpetuates greasy haired cousin fuckers on day time television as the norm for poor people.

Burnbabyburn I do not support the aspects of a system that demand that from you. I believe the there should be a very firm safety net to take care of those who unfortunately find themselves in your circumstances. What I want a government to do is to ensure the system is not "used" by those who can but won't to make sure that those who would but can't can expect to be treated with dignity and to be warm and comfortable and that there is a support network available for them to maximise their quality of life. The same too goes for those with disabled children or very sick relatives who require their care.

www.boycottworkfare.org/?page_id=16

*people think on an individual level, its the thatcher culture isn't it.

people think in terms of my taxes not the nations budget.*

Very true. But I confess that I am guilty of getting indignant about my taxes - the money that I pay in to the pot - being used to line the pockets of fat cat business owners. I want my money back!!

op yabu
there are problems with the scheme that must me addressed (especially commercial companies benefiting from the cheap labour at taxpayers expense), but the fundamental principle that one cannot be expected to stay at home on jsa for v long time is right

I am a bit shocked that workfare is going to be putting benefit claimants in jobs that should be getting advertised. I agree that there will be no incentives for companies to advertise and pay a person at the normal rate.

BUT, at my work we are a placement for various back to work schemes run locally (mental health, criminal justice etc) and have run young apprentices (in admin to joinery) and some people take the opportunity with two hands, work their ass off and succeed, others don't turn up on time, have dreadful attitudes and complain about being there.

My experiences (& my sis & I were brought up by a single mum earning £10k & not entitled to a penny in the late 80s early 90s) have made we want people who claim benefits to work for them for part of the week. No longer should people be able to sit at home being paid. The big sticking point though is what's the best way of doing this????

Are you ignoring my question MIW? If you think this scheme is a good idea, please tell me what incentive there will be for companies to create real jobs?

The level of fear, confusion and outrage on here is just the tip of the iceberg. These reforms will affect almost everybody directly or indirectly except the super rich, who can continue to access good housing, education and health care as before.

I'm sure than there are still many, many people who will be affected by welfare 'reform' who are still unaware of UC and the other changes. Loads of people don't follow the news regularly, it can be too depressing to watch if you're already having a hard time coping with whatever life as thrown at you. Some people are working long hours in multiple minimum wage jobs, looking after family and don't have time to come on forums like this. Many others will have a language or literacy barrier hindering their understanding of how the system will change in the next few years.

As far as i know the government as not leafletted all households about the changes, which they should because people need as much time as possible to protest, lobby or consider how they will manage.

I'm actually relieved that these threads are here, a few months ago it felt like no one was noticing what was really going on.

i am genuinely frightened for this country and this isn't a feeling i ahve felt for an awefully long time.

my kids are grown. i can't imagine the fear that people with young children have, i can't keep up with what you would and would not be entitled to.

welfare reform, the nhs. this is far right stuff. euthenising the frail and the disabled. its so very very bad the whole country is so bad at the moment

Mrs Amaretto, if you have worked for 10+ years, you should be left to get on with your own job search. if you want to require young people to do some training that might be a good idea.

i was unemployed for a few months last year. i did not care for the shitty, condescending attitude i got from the so called job centre staff, who could not find their own arses with 2 hands and certainly did not know anything about any job market. i worked for a few weeks over Christmas, stocking shelves in a supermarket. i got £8 an hour for this work, i.e. £300 a week not £67.50. i did the job to fill my cv (also to show that i am not too stuck up) and not spend my savings. i would not have done this for £67.50 as there was nothing to learn, there was no training worth talking about.

op yabu
there are problems with the scheme that must me addressed (especially commercial companies benefiting from the cheap labour at taxpayers expense), but the fundamental principle that one cannot be expected to stay at home on jsa for v long time is right

But where have I said that I object to the principle that people shouldn't be expected to stay at home on JSA for a very long time? I haven't said that, and if people are able to work, I'd like to see them back in work asap. FWIW, I think most unemployed people would like to get back to work asap too.

My OP was focused on the problems with the scheme which you have acknowledged. Namely that the unemployed will be forced to work for less than NMW while the taxpayer subsidises free labour for large, wealthy corporations. And that this can only lead to greater unemployment and a greater burden on the taxpayer.

bemy do you realise that a scheme that gives commercial companies what is effectively unpaid labour it will increase the numbers requiring JSA.. Said companies will lay them off as paying them NMW will be too expensive.

I'm prepared to do any job I am physically capable of but I expect to be paid the going rate for it. Don't mind NMW if that is the going rate but I have rent to pay and I would like to feed my family.

"i am genuinely frightened for this country"

Me too. The weirdest thing for me is that having learnt about the Nazi's at school, with all the warnings about it happening again one day, I have always thought we had to watch out for someone who was explicit and vocal in their ideas and policies, and yet here we are with a party who is passing all these bills which, whilst not quite in the same league as the Nazi's, are certainly going to cause vast amounts suffering to millions, and which seem to have just come from nowhere. I don't remember the Tories producing a manifesto which said they would fuck vulnerable people over as much as possible. It's all been so sneaky and underhand. As a result I can't quite yet feel it's all real. It's too surreal. Oh well, next year when I lose half my income as a result of losing DLA, and have to turn to prostitution bearing in mind I'm too ill to work any other job, I'm sure it will all sink in. Hey ho.

I'm not ignoring you H&H I just need to do some research and will come back later.

Fair enough, MIW. I am genuinely interested to see what you come back with. :)