Last Saturday there was a protest at the Poundland store in Deptford High Street, part of an ongoing campaign against shops involved in the workfare scheme ('Mandatory Work Activity') whereby unemployed people are made to undertake unpaid work. South London Solidarity Federation, who organised the Deptford action, point out that employers are using work placements to do work that they would otherwise have to pay staff to do - thereby actually reducing the real jobs available for unemployed people.
Other companies have pulled out of the scheme following protests, including Holland & Barrett who were targeted in Catford and elsewhere.
One day workfare will be the norm. No one paid by the company. Except bosses. I wonder if tax payers alliance will be happy with the idea of us being state 'employees'
ReplyDeleteNot only have we got 7 or 8 bookies in the High Street but now we're being swamped by Pound Shops and I'm not taking about those independent shops which have been there for years, I'm talking about big chain pound shops, buggering our High Street up even more, places like our local greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers, the 'bent can shoppe' (Johnny Price), Terry's ( across the road from Iceland) are all at rick of being swallowed up by these chains and soon there will be no high street where you can go in a shop and have a chat, or get any discount.....;)
ReplyDeleteThere's been a lot in the media about 'underemployment' recently whereby staff in some jobs are desperate to get extra hours, but can't. I wonder how much of this is due to workfare.
ReplyDelete