As part of Boycott Workfare’s week of action a redoubtable band of stalwart activists from Bournemouth and Poole Anti Cuts Coalition (BPACC) descended on various locations in Poole to express their feelings about the latest incarnation of slavery today (Tuesday).
Locations picketed included Ability and Prospects (both workfare providers),Argos and Poundland who use this Tory government sanctioned exploitative policy to avoid having to pay a proper wage and to intimidate already existing workforces. Poole jobcentre was also extensively picketed.
Kevin Smith of Poole said “Workfare placements are bad for everyone. If there is a job available then it should be paid at the going rate. It’s unfair to threaten unemployed people with withdrawal of benefits and it’s unfair to people in work who can be threatened and intimidated with their jobs by this scheme”
Kim Elkin also of Poole said “I am here today to protest workfare. It isn’t working and is unfair not just on the able bodied, but also to sick and disabled. Workfare takes paid jobs out of the labour market and substitutes them with taxpayer sponsored government exploitation”.
Kim continued “The figures don’t justify this policy either. Of all workfare participants only about 3.5% of participants get jobs at the end of their placement despite the Employment Minister recently stating ‘half or something like half find work’”
As an avowed opponent of slavery in all its forms it seems disgraceful that after being in the vanguard of anti-slavery (slave trade abolished 1807 and slavery abolished in 1833) the UK has reverted back to early 19th century employment policy by re-introducing slavery through the back door.
Looking back into history after the abolition of slavery the Royal Navy scoured the seas for slave traders of any nationality and fought several running battles with slavers loosing many men in the process. Workfare defiles their memory.
Graham Horne
Swanage.
