LACKEYS OF THE GOVERNMENT: ENEMIES OF THE WORKING CLASS
Sheffield Working(Class) Action Network (SWAN) | 24.02.2006 16:27 | Anti-racism | Social Struggles | Sheffield | World
While the Public and Commercial Services union continue to oppose further job losses in the Department for Work and Pensions. The time has come for all WORKERS to unite and fight this “creeping fascism” by not implementing the government's attacks upon their own class – claimants and fellow workers.
A decade ago, the introduction of Jobseekers Allowance was an attack on benefit claimants and it has been members of the PCS union who have implemented these attacks upon fellow workers leaving many with claims suspended, increasing poverty and crime. Leading people to claim Incapacity Benefits.
Over the last few months the government have started to attack those on Incapacity Benefits. What follows is a first hand account of how members of The PCS union have begun to suspend Incapacity Benefits.
Following information given to them, letters returned by a fellow tenant it was taken upon workers at The DWP to inform the landlord the person might not be living at his bedsit flat anymore.
One week on, the landlord informed them as far as he was concerned the person was no longer living there. When the claimant entered Bailey Court Job Centre to collect his weekly payment, he was informed his claim had been suspended until they could prove their living circumstance and why they had moved out of the address on their benefit claim.
They capitulated and gave a false statement informing the worker this is what they was doing, giving there reasons for doing so and a payment was given for a lower amount than his Incapacity Benafit. The Incapacity Benefit payment was suspended due to the fact they had given a statement under duress, harassment and intimidation that they was living rough i.e. homeless. Incapacity Benefits are not paid in full unless you have a stable address.
The following week they had now found themself BANNED from all Job Centres in Sheffield and also informed they was not allowed to phone. We suspect due to there political stance and debate with workers at The DWP.
The claimant had told them them the truth as to why they had to move from the address on the claim and that he was now living in a Squat (a more stable address than the other flat).
Despite this evidence, the Trade Union representative Dave has insisted the claimant is to give a 'care of' address. Though Dave has been told over the phone this is not possible, he has continued to keep the Claim Suspended and attack someone from his own social class. Dave insists he is, likewise, working class.
The protest today is about stopping attacks upon workers, the loss of there jobs and civil liberties we simply ask for members of the working class to consider this and other decisions made against claimants by benefit workers. If you can, please talk to these workers so they understand how them doing the government's job of dismantling the welfare state is affecting us. Phone Dave,(0114 2590326/7) at work and ask why as a trade union representative is he happy to implement the attacks of This Government upon claimants and suspend their benefits. However, he is prepared to take strike and protest action to defend his rights while attacking, willfully or otherwise, the rights of fellow working class people.
You can read the blog written by this claimant on line...
http://pretentiousartist.com/blog where you will find links and information on action you can take to stop the attacks on benefits.
Thanks for taking time in reading this.
Please note, when phoning, to keep it polite and civil. Do not give them an excuse for further attacks upon our class.. This information has been produced by Sheffield Working(Class) Action Network (SWAN)
Over the last few months the government have started to attack those on Incapacity Benefits. What follows is a first hand account of how members of The PCS union have begun to suspend Incapacity Benefits.
Following information given to them, letters returned by a fellow tenant it was taken upon workers at The DWP to inform the landlord the person might not be living at his bedsit flat anymore.
One week on, the landlord informed them as far as he was concerned the person was no longer living there. When the claimant entered Bailey Court Job Centre to collect his weekly payment, he was informed his claim had been suspended until they could prove their living circumstance and why they had moved out of the address on their benefit claim.
They capitulated and gave a false statement informing the worker this is what they was doing, giving there reasons for doing so and a payment was given for a lower amount than his Incapacity Benafit. The Incapacity Benefit payment was suspended due to the fact they had given a statement under duress, harassment and intimidation that they was living rough i.e. homeless. Incapacity Benefits are not paid in full unless you have a stable address.
The following week they had now found themself BANNED from all Job Centres in Sheffield and also informed they was not allowed to phone. We suspect due to there political stance and debate with workers at The DWP.
The claimant had told them them the truth as to why they had to move from the address on the claim and that he was now living in a Squat (a more stable address than the other flat).
Despite this evidence, the Trade Union representative Dave has insisted the claimant is to give a 'care of' address. Though Dave has been told over the phone this is not possible, he has continued to keep the Claim Suspended and attack someone from his own social class. Dave insists he is, likewise, working class.
The protest today is about stopping attacks upon workers, the loss of there jobs and civil liberties we simply ask for members of the working class to consider this and other decisions made against claimants by benefit workers. If you can, please talk to these workers so they understand how them doing the government's job of dismantling the welfare state is affecting us. Phone Dave,(0114 2590326/7) at work and ask why as a trade union representative is he happy to implement the attacks of This Government upon claimants and suspend their benefits. However, he is prepared to take strike and protest action to defend his rights while attacking, willfully or otherwise, the rights of fellow working class people.
You can read the blog written by this claimant on line...
http://pretentiousartist.com/blog where you will find links and information on action you can take to stop the attacks on benefits. Thanks for taking time in reading this.
Please note, when phoning, to keep it polite and civil. Do not give them an excuse for further attacks upon our class.. This information has been produced by Sheffield Working(Class) Action Network (SWAN)
Sheffield Working(Class) Action Network (SWAN)
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
Let me get this right...
24.02.2006 17:30
Let me me be direct about this - are you having a laugh or have you run out of stout sticks to gnaw on during the long dark hours?
Get a life!!
Skyver Bill
you have a point but...
24.02.2006 19:55
consequently the landlord hadn't seen him since december and whichever way the DWP found out that they weren't sleeping there (cos of hassles) but the person was still paying rent for the flat (or rather, the taxpayer was through housing benefit) and still storing there stuff there. So, in this circumstance weren't the DWp maybe not breaking any rules but just a bit out of order in refusing to pay benefit the persons full benefit? jobcentre staff stipulate that you must stay at your claimant address for often than not if you're to be a legitimate benefit claimant. Of course, if you're a wage earner then you also earn the freedom of kipping wherever you like (usually cos you can "afford" the luxury of a more stable address).
The person didn't kick off at the offices, just swore a couple of times during lengthy phone conversations "this is fucking ridiculous", for example.
the big thing for me is that once you become NFA/homeless, then they can take the incapacity premium or whatever from your benefits on the pretext that you don't need as much to live on because you don't have to pay bills anymore, as if not having a proper roof over your head and having to eat take away food, etc. is a cheaper way of living.
how can that be right?
the DWP don't often illegally withhold someone's benefit but there'll often use their discretion in a way that penalises you when you least need it, that's if moral codes mean anything to people doing a job where they're meant to be helping out poor arse-wipes who rely on welfare
before 1996 all you had to do to sign on was be available for work and every so often you'd be scrutinised about it, go on a week long course or something. Now you have to jump through all kinds of hoops.
and if they got rid of the unemployed then inflation would go through the sky.
Maybe that's until Chancellor Brown or someone refines the system.
no answers
all very well but...
25.02.2006 16:35
It is a valid point that people in these jobs should think about what they are doing but if they don't follow the rules they would end up on the other side of the window as it were. I would suggest an appeal to councellors, media, senior people would be more effective than hassling one person. Many of the people in the PCS agree that the system is crap but they are not the ones with any real clout.
Finally, as the poster well knows, Sheffield Welfare Action Network (SWAN) was recently set up to oppose the cuts on incapacity benefit. The issue of incapacity benefit being cut if the claimant has no fixed address is a serious one and given resources one we could campaign on this the future. That said we are pretty much snowed under with the task of trying to make sure it doesn't get even worse with the proposed reforms. If the protest by Sheffield Working (Class) Action Network (sic?) is going to continue it would be appreciated if the acronym SWCAN was used otherwise there may be some confusion...
Cheers n take care out there.
Jason