Workfare : Forced Labour Protest in Nottingham
tash@indymedia.org (Tash [Alan Lodge]) | 04.03.2012 22:55
Saturday 3 March 2012
12.00 noon, meeting outside Wilkinsons, Parliament St, Nottingham
In solidarity with Liverpool Uncut’s action against workfare on Saturday 3rd March, Boycott Workfare has called a national day of action against workfare. This was Nottingham's contribution
So many high street stores are involved in taking on forced unpaid labour that there is plenty of choice – Tescos, Asda, Holland & Barrett, Poundland, Primark, HMV, and Topshop to name but a few.
Workfare means that those who need welfare are forced into unpaid work for multi-million pound companies. Instead of a living wage, they receive only JSA – a tiny £53 a week for the under-25s – far below minimum wage.
Workfare means those in paid positions may see their jobs replaced by this unpaid labour. Why would a company pay for people to do these jobs when they can get free labour from the Job Centre?
Local activist say that we can put a stop to this forced unpaid labour – Waterstones, Sainsburys and TK Maxx have all recently announced that they would no longer take unpaid placements – the other companies just need a bit more encouragement to stop this exploitation.
Notts Trades Council, Notts UnCut and all right-thinking people demand an end to this exploitation and call for welfare rights and living wages for all!
Boycott Workfare http://www.boycottworkfare.org
Notts Uncut http://www.nottsuncut.co.uk
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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email: tash@indymedia.org
Web: http://digitaljournalist.eu
Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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tash@indymedia.org (Tash [Alan Lodge])
http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/2447