Skip to content or view screen version

Cambridge Jobcentre 'Redecorated'!

Cameraboy | 17.06.2011 21:42 | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Cambridge

There was an unexpected new paintjob applied last night to Henry Giles House, the Cambridge Jobcentre on Chesterton Lane.

Persons unknown had sprayed "Fuck work B4 it fucks U" right across the front of the building"!

Pretty clear what that says!
Pretty clear what that says!

Going but not quite gone.
Going but not quite gone.

Almost removed, but just about legible...
Almost removed, but just about legible...


Although the office workers were quick to hire someone to clean off most of it, I managed to capture some of it for posterity (see pictures).

It comes as no surprise to me, as there is currently a lot anger and resentment bubbling just beneath the surface in the light of the Tories putting the squeeze on benefits claimants, including bogus medical checkups for disabled people by private subcontractor Atos, daily signings for anyone who has been unemployed for more than two years, compulsory work placements ("workfare"), effectively working up to full time hours for a month for your giro, and A4e forcing claimants to apply for jobs they neither want or are able to do.

It's also worth noting that private subcontractors A4e are paid a commission by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for each time they manage to shuffle off another claimant into an an inappropiate (mostly low paid) job, effectively perpetuating a situation where overall wages are depressed by private companies paying barely more than the minimum wage for long hours of manual labour.

There's little incentive in the system to be honest either, because if you work part time and sign on, then do the right thing and declare your earnings, you are 'allowed' a £10.00 a week 'pocket money', then the rest gets deducted pound for pound from your benefits, making it moreorless pointless to continue working.

Given this, it should come as no surprise there is a hidden grey economy of people signing on and working on the quiet.

So yes, of course some people are angry about the benefits system.

Cameraboy

Comments

Display the following 7 comments

  1. the point of work — judder
  2. INCOME SUPPORT — eRIC
  3. arbeit macht frei — sredduj
  4. comment — Anarchsit
  5. Destroy Work — Destroy the Economy
  6. @ the condescending cock — whatever
  7. You can be workshy and have a job! — Not Workshy At All...