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.

There was a great article this week not sure if it was the guardian or the independent but the gist was we have stopped hating poverty and started hating the poor.

Don't hold back Custy

Noddy: that is what happened in the 19th century until the New Liberals were faced with the fact that the 'undeserving poor' were not all feckless lazy bastards and a proper welfare state had to be put in place becasue capitalism does not always provide. Now we are demonising the poor again while pulling down the welfare state. I wish politicans would read some history. The Poor Law did not 'solve' poverty and neither will these kinds of schemes.

I have serious health issues and am terrified at the gradual dismantling of the NHS.This current tory govt are unbelievably harsh and they are blatant with demonising the poor/ill just as much as they are obvious in their support of the rich. I think we should all be very afraid god knows where we will be in 5 years time.

What I don't understand is how people who claim to be against people getting handouts for nothing from the taxpayer can be ok with Tesco et al being in receipt of same. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the corporation, after all. This isn't aimed at anyone in particular, but I know such people exist.

Just for clarity purposes, how long do you actually have to be claiming JSA in order to be put forward for a workfare placement?

I think if someone on benefits is wanting to gain experience and alleviate boredom and volunteers for this sort of thing then that is one thing.But to force someone to put in the hours alongside someone who is getting 4x as much for the same job is scandalous and an insult. For £60 a week the least you can expect is to be allowed to sit on your arse if you so choose

There are some posters on here who just live in an utter fantasy world. I'm almost at the point of wishing DH's disability on them so that they can find out for themselves what it is like to live on ESA and possibly have to do workfare and be caused physical pain and see their condition worsen as a consequence.

I would gladly swap places and have my DH's health back so that we could go back to paying high taxes to support somebody else having to cope with disability.

Many people are just utterly selfish and seem to think they deserve a round of fucking applause for having a job.

I don't agree that you should be allowed to sit on your arse, but that certainly doesn't mean I find any degree of fairness in the current proposals as they stand. If the placements were linked to NMW, or were situated in the current voluntary sector (as I understand the Aussie system to be) then I think people would be a lot more accepting of going into such a programme.

I knew something bad would happen if the Conservatives were allowed back in, I just didn't quite realise how bad. They are trying so hard to destroy the country. Can't believe so many people swallowed Dave's lies. :(

"For £60 a week the least you can expect is to be allowed to sit on your arse if you so choose"

Really?? I did not realize that. Maybe it is a good time to stop this all the same.

The Tesco thing is ridiculous. When I was 16, many people in the fifth year at school went and got part time jobs at Tesco. There was a couple of hours training in order to operate a till and stack shelves. How can graduates, or anybody, now possibly need eight weeks work experience in Tesco in order to get a job in Tesco?

I think it's great that Tesco have now approached the Govt to ask that the scheme is made a voluntary one.
Nowt like a little adverse publicity to whip up fear of being even more hated. %23everylittlehelps.

custy another one who's terrified. I'm graduating this year and genuinely don't know how I'm going to get a job that will allow me to pay for food, accommodation and stand on my own two feet before the age of about 40, let alone think about getting on the property ladder or having a family.

Don't mind at all sleepy. I would like answers to the same questions! :)

Current scheme called "Work Experience".

Brochure for employers here. Info for "workers" here.

Eligibility of this specific scheme: aged 16-24 and been on JSA for more than 13 weeks. Scheme is supposed to last 2 - 8 weeks.

IIUC, scheme is supposed to be only for those who have "shown an interest" during first week, "worker" can withdraw without sanctions. After that they will be sanctioned by cuts to amount of JSA (not sure of severity of cuts).

However, lots of anecdotes that JobCentre staff mislead "workers". "Show an interest" meaningless. JobCentre and users of "workers" don't mention ability to withdraw - and often don't know about it. Some complaints about "workers" having to buy own uniform, expenses not being paid.

Plan is to roll this out to other groups, including those deemed disabled even by the new, harsher ESA criteria.

Many previous or perhaps current very similar schemes - so many it's difficult to keep track. Older people with considerable experience have been sent on schemes for up to 6 months, some on multiple placements at the same employer without being offered a job.

Hope I've got that approx correct. There have been so many schemes it becomes hard to tie down the anecdotes to a particular one. But the players remain the same.

In 2008, according to one testimony, Tesco + JobCentre were running 3-week "work trials" as a pre-requisite to job interviews - but the 3 weeks could only be done over Christmas and the store was actually not planning to take on more staff. The 3 weeks was entirely on JSA paid for by the taxpayer.

And so on and so forth.

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

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

I agree Custardo, it is a very selfish society.

Well in my experience I think it's a great idea. I know it's a small sample but a huge problem facing key workers for a lot of care leavers/ homeless people in the supported accommodation I work in, is the lack of suitable day time activity.

This work experience will reduce the belief (not the belief of most people but a large proportion of my current client group) that benefits is a lifestyle choice and there is no point getting up before lunch.

I must emphasise that this belief is due to generational benefit dependance and a perceived abandonment by the state.

It's a lot harder for people to commit crime and fall back into substance misuse when they have to work.

What part of that would not be served by short contracts of paid work, buggy?

That removes the motivation for employers to replace real jobs with unpaid labour.

toomanycuts.blogspot.com/2012/02/nice-workfare-if-you-can-get-it.html

WORKFARE EXPLAINED

Plus a list of companies thet use it

It does indeed, Nilgiri. I really feel for people who are trying to get jobs in retail, who don't have a lot of other work options. You can't tell me that if their potential employers can get the same work done for free, they're going to pay for it instead. I've yet to hear any shop worker come out in favour of this. And this is assuming they don't start shedding staff in favour of workfare people.

toomanycuts.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-workfare-affects-you.html

How workfare affects YOU

"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."

I'm out, quite frankly. I think there is a better life elsewhere for my family so I'm going to find it. We are lucky enough to have that choice though. I feel an absolutely incredible amount of shame right now for not voting at the last elections. I've always been fairly apolitical but I've never experienced the full force of a Tory government before It feels like being punched in the face tbh

Here is why it is a big conflict of interest for charities to be involved
Shelter have pulled out now but i will use them as an example.
JSA claimant starts workfare with Shelter organisation.
JSA claimant has to have time off due to minor illness like the flu or whatever or has transport problems getting to the placement.
Shelter then reports this to the placement provider which causes the DWP to issue a benefit sanction which could cause the claimant to become homeless. Can people really not see it??!!!