http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/discretionary-housing-payments-guide-draft.pdf
Follow the link to the archived page. The information is still the most up tp date that we know is available.
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Co-Op - Don't Renew The Atos Contract! - Pickets
Co-Op - Don't Renew The Atos Contract! - Pickets
Everywhere
Picket times - From 5p.m. on Thursday 17th January to catch people going home from work and late night shoppers. And anytime on Saturday 19th January.
The Co-Op have said that their new occupational health contract starts in March and that the bidding process for the new contract has already begun. The Co-Op have refused to publicly rule out a bid from Atos. Tendering processes are generally geared towards awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. If the Co-Op were going to make their decision based on ethical concerns, which they have said will be a factor, they would have already publicly rejected a bid from Atos. Atos's unethical behaviour has already been well documented in the mainstream media and Disabled People Against Cuts have compiled a list of Atos's unethical behaviour for the Co-Op. Pickets with calls for boycotts and communication blockades and the resulting damage to a company's reputation does have a significant economic impact and has been shown to work with other campaigns. The Co-Op is particularly vulnerable to such tactics as their ethical image is their unique selling point in their part of the market.
Details of the Communications blockade on Thursday 17th January from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/357131177718217/
----------------------------------------------------
Some background information:
It has recently been discovered that the Co-Op Bank and group of companies have had a 4 year occupational health contract with Atos and that the contract is due for renewal. Atos make huge profits carrying out work capability assessments on sick and disabled people on behalf of the Government. As was exposed by a Channel 4 documentary they automatically pass 7 out of 8 people as fit for work - to comply with Government targets for benefit cuts. Their decisions are not based on objective medical opinion. Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland have received 24,000 complaints about Atos. CAB win 80% of appeals against Atos finding people fit for work. The Daily Record reported on a Government survey that showed half of those found fit for work by Atos end up destitute.
The Government are cutting benefits as part of their austerity measures aimed mainly at the poor, while those responsible for the public debt continue to get richer. Despite the media headlines about one or two bankers losing their bonuses, generally bankers' bonuses and those of company directors continue to grow. Sales in luxury goods are also rising. Nearly 50,000 new property millionaires were created in the UK in 2012. £2 billion of cuts in housing benefit and child tax credit where announced in the chancellor's autumn statement, while £3 billion of cuts in corporation tax was announced in the same statement.
The Co-Op sells itself as an ethical company, but what ethical standards are they maintaining by not publicly ruling out awarding a new contract that gives millions to a company that cuts the benefits of sick and disabled people?
Claimants Resisting Unfair Treatment, Cuts and Harassment http://www.thecrutchcollective.blogspot.co.uk
Supported by
Clydeside Industrial Workers Of The World
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Clydeside-IWW/216550781713688
Glasgow Solidarity Federation
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Glasgow-Solidarity-Federation/237568036376381
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/488541864531259/
The Glasgow picket will be at the Co-Op's new flagship food store at 143 Sauchiehall Street. At least 3 other pickets are being planned in Dundee, London and Southampton. More details to follow.
Everywhere
Picket times - From 5p.m. on Thursday 17th January to catch people going home from work and late night shoppers. And anytime on Saturday 19th January.
The Co-Op have said that their new occupational health contract starts in March and that the bidding process for the new contract has already begun. The Co-Op have refused to publicly rule out a bid from Atos. Tendering processes are generally geared towards awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. If the Co-Op were going to make their decision based on ethical concerns, which they have said will be a factor, they would have already publicly rejected a bid from Atos. Atos's unethical behaviour has already been well documented in the mainstream media and Disabled People Against Cuts have compiled a list of Atos's unethical behaviour for the Co-Op. Pickets with calls for boycotts and communication blockades and the resulting damage to a company's reputation does have a significant economic impact and has been shown to work with other campaigns. The Co-Op is particularly vulnerable to such tactics as their ethical image is their unique selling point in their part of the market.
Details of the Communications blockade on Thursday 17th January from 9 a.m. to 5p.m. can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/357131177718217/
----------------------------------------------------
Some background information:
It has recently been discovered that the Co-Op Bank and group of companies have had a 4 year occupational health contract with Atos and that the contract is due for renewal. Atos make huge profits carrying out work capability assessments on sick and disabled people on behalf of the Government. As was exposed by a Channel 4 documentary they automatically pass 7 out of 8 people as fit for work - to comply with Government targets for benefit cuts. Their decisions are not based on objective medical opinion. Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland have received 24,000 complaints about Atos. CAB win 80% of appeals against Atos finding people fit for work. The Daily Record reported on a Government survey that showed half of those found fit for work by Atos end up destitute.
The Government are cutting benefits as part of their austerity measures aimed mainly at the poor, while those responsible for the public debt continue to get richer. Despite the media headlines about one or two bankers losing their bonuses, generally bankers' bonuses and those of company directors continue to grow. Sales in luxury goods are also rising. Nearly 50,000 new property millionaires were created in the UK in 2012. £2 billion of cuts in housing benefit and child tax credit where announced in the chancellor's autumn statement, while £3 billion of cuts in corporation tax was announced in the same statement.
The Co-Op sells itself as an ethical company, but what ethical standards are they maintaining by not publicly ruling out awarding a new contract that gives millions to a company that cuts the benefits of sick and disabled people?
Claimants Resisting Unfair Treatment, Cuts and Harassment http://www.thecrutchcollective.blogspot.co.uk
Supported by
Clydeside Industrial Workers Of The World
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Clydeside-IWW/216550781713688
Glasgow Solidarity Federation
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Glasgow-Solidarity-Federation/237568036376381
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/488541864531259/
The Glasgow picket will be at the Co-Op's new flagship food store at 143 Sauchiehall Street. At least 3 other pickets are being planned in Dundee, London and Southampton. More details to follow.
Co-Op - Don't Renew The Atos Contract! - Communications Blockade
Co-Op - Don't Renew The Atos Contract! - Communications Blockade
Thursday, 17 January 2013
09:00 until 17:00
Everywhere
The Co-Op have said that their new occupational health contract starts in March and that the bidding process for the new contract has already begun. The Co-Op have refused to publicly rule out a bid from Atos. Tendering processes are generally geared towards awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. If the Co-Op were going to make their decision based on ethical concerns, which they have said will be a factor, they would have already publicly rejected a bid from Atos. Atos's unethical behaviour has already been well documented in the mainstream media and Disabled People Against Cuts have compiled a list of Atos's unethical behaviour for the Co-Op. Pickets with calls for boycotts and communication blockades and the resulting damage to a company's reputation does have a significant economic impact and has been shown to work with other campaigns. The Co-Op is particularly vulnerable to such tactics as their ethical image is their unique selling point in their part of the market.
Hundreds of people have already complained about the contract on TheCo-operative Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheCooperative
and by tweeting @TheCo-operative:
https://twitter.com/TheCooperative
Why not join them and tell the Co-Op that you will stop shopping at their supermarkets or that you will close your Co-Op bank account unless they publicly state they will not be renewing their contact with Atos?
You can also email customer.relations@co-op.co.uk or contact Chris Mills, their Ethical Policy Manager:
chris.mills@co-operative.coop
Telephone: 0161 827 6160
Mobile: 07921 893 949
Facsimile: 01618276230
Up to 5 free faxes can be sent from this website:
http://www.freepopfax.com/
Perhaps you could fax them the gift of a file of a classic book, many of which are available to download for free online.
----------------------------------------------------
Some background information:
It has recently been discovered that the Co-Op Bank and group of companies have had a 4 year occupational health contract with Atos and that the contract is due for renewal. Atos make huge profits carrying out work capability assessments on sick and disabled people on behalf of the Government. As was exposed by a Channel 4 documentary they automatically pass 7 out of 8 people as fit for work - to comply with Government targets for benefit cuts. Their decisions are not based on objective medical opinion. Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland have received 24,000 complaints about Atos. CAB win 80% of appeals against Atos finding people fit for work. The Daily Record reported on a Government survey that showed half of those found fit for work by Atos end up destitute.
The Government are cutting benefits as part of their austerity measures aimed mainly at the poor, while those responsible for the public debt continue to get richer. Despite the media headlines about one or two bankers losing their bonuses, generally bankers' bonuses and those of company directors continue to grow. Sales in luxury goods are also rising. Nearly 50,000 new property millionaires were created in the UK in 2012. £2 billion of cuts in housing benefit and child tax credit where announced in the chancellor's autumn statement, while £3 billion of cuts in corporation tax was announced in the same statement.
The Co-Op sells itself as an ethical company, but what ethical standards are they maintaining by not publicly ruling out awarding a new contract that gives millions to a company that cuts the benefits of sick and disabled people?
Claimants Resisting Unfair Treatment, Cuts and Harassment http://www.thecrutchcollective.blogspot.co.uk
Supported by
Clydeside Industrial Workers Of The World
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Clydeside-IWW/216550781713688
Glasgow Solidarity Federation
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Glasgow-Solidarity-Federation/237568036376381
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/357131177718217/
Thursday, 17 January 2013
09:00 until 17:00
Everywhere
The Co-Op have said that their new occupational health contract starts in March and that the bidding process for the new contract has already begun. The Co-Op have refused to publicly rule out a bid from Atos. Tendering processes are generally geared towards awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. If the Co-Op were going to make their decision based on ethical concerns, which they have said will be a factor, they would have already publicly rejected a bid from Atos. Atos's unethical behaviour has already been well documented in the mainstream media and Disabled People Against Cuts have compiled a list of Atos's unethical behaviour for the Co-Op. Pickets with calls for boycotts and communication blockades and the resulting damage to a company's reputation does have a significant economic impact and has been shown to work with other campaigns. The Co-Op is particularly vulnerable to such tactics as their ethical image is their unique selling point in their part of the market.
Hundreds of people have already complained about the contract on TheCo-operative Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheCooperative
and by tweeting @TheCo-operative:
https://twitter.com/TheCooperative
Why not join them and tell the Co-Op that you will stop shopping at their supermarkets or that you will close your Co-Op bank account unless they publicly state they will not be renewing their contact with Atos?
You can also email customer.relations@co-op.co.uk or contact Chris Mills, their Ethical Policy Manager:
chris.mills@co-operative.coop
Telephone: 0161 827 6160
Mobile: 07921 893 949
Facsimile: 01618276230
Up to 5 free faxes can be sent from this website:
http://www.freepopfax.com/
Perhaps you could fax them the gift of a file of a classic book, many of which are available to download for free online.
----------------------------------------------------
Some background information:
It has recently been discovered that the Co-Op Bank and group of companies have had a 4 year occupational health contract with Atos and that the contract is due for renewal. Atos make huge profits carrying out work capability assessments on sick and disabled people on behalf of the Government. As was exposed by a Channel 4 documentary they automatically pass 7 out of 8 people as fit for work - to comply with Government targets for benefit cuts. Their decisions are not based on objective medical opinion. Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland have received 24,000 complaints about Atos. CAB win 80% of appeals against Atos finding people fit for work. The Daily Record reported on a Government survey that showed half of those found fit for work by Atos end up destitute.
The Government are cutting benefits as part of their austerity measures aimed mainly at the poor, while those responsible for the public debt continue to get richer. Despite the media headlines about one or two bankers losing their bonuses, generally bankers' bonuses and those of company directors continue to grow. Sales in luxury goods are also rising. Nearly 50,000 new property millionaires were created in the UK in 2012. £2 billion of cuts in housing benefit and child tax credit where announced in the chancellor's autumn statement, while £3 billion of cuts in corporation tax was announced in the same statement.
The Co-Op sells itself as an ethical company, but what ethical standards are they maintaining by not publicly ruling out awarding a new contract that gives millions to a company that cuts the benefits of sick and disabled people?
Claimants Resisting Unfair Treatment, Cuts and Harassment http://www.thecrutchcollective.blogspot.co.uk
Supported by
Clydeside Industrial Workers Of The World
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Clydeside-IWW/216550781713688
Glasgow Solidarity Federation
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Glasgow-Solidarity-Federation/237568036376381
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/357131177718217/
Sunday, 23 December 2012
Monday, 10 December 2012
Anti-Workfare Pickets Glasgow Report
On Saturday 8th December as
part of the Boycott Workfare Week Of Action a couple of dozen people
from Clydeside Industrial Workers Of The World, the Crutch
Collective, Glasgow Anarchist Federation, Glasgow Solidarity
Federation, the Right To Work Campaign and other individuals
leafleted a branch of Superdrug in one of the city centre's busiest
streets. The one thousand leaflets given out highlighted Superdrug
taking on even more people on the Government's 'Work Experience'
workfare scheme for the Christmas period. The extra people on
workfare means less holiday pay for the regular staff. There was a
lot of police about and Superdrug had hired extra security for the
day. However the combination of the picket, the leaflet saying,
'Don't Shop At Superdrug' and the added security costs meant we
succeeded in our objective of costing Superdrug money for using
Workfare. Thanks to everyone who took part. Apparently someone also
left placards saying 'Superdrug + Unpaid Work = Superdrudgery'
outside their other city centre branch.
The picket also attracted some media
attention from local journalists. The Sunday Mail, with a reported
readership of around one million, mentioned the Edinburgh, Dundee and
Glasgow protests, and their article, 'Big Businesses Taking On
Jobless Young People To Work Unpaid Over Christmas', helped get our
general message across to a larger audience. It appears to contain
some useful information on the extent of Workfare involvement of a
number of companies, but it also includes some of the distortions of
the reality of Workfare by these companies and the Department for
Work and Pensions. We would have to question if the newspaper
verified any of the information in the statements of the the Workfare
companies and the D.W.P.
The Superdrug distortions - 'Work
Experience' is not voluntary in practice. Job Centre Plus and third
party workfare profiteers like A4E bully benefit claimants on to the
scheme. Benefit claimants can have their benefits cut if they do not
not continue to 'volunteer' to stay on the scheme, after they have
been on the scheme for a week. Only a tiny number of people on
workfare get jobs afterwards. For example it is 3.5% for the 'Work
Programme' and that includes participants getting jobs with other
companies and very short-term jobs. Stacking shelves for Superdrug is
not learning a skill. Argos state that 'Work Experience' people work
alongside paid colleagues, but don't replace them, but the permanent
staff lose out on holiday pay. Why aren't all of their temporary
staff paid? Of the 25% Poundland say left their 'work experience'
early, because they received a job offer elsewhere, how many were
going to get offered a job anyhow? Poundland also put a positive spin
on 10% going on to get jobs with them, but that means 90% do not,
while Poundland continue to make profits from all the unpaid labour.
We brought forward the time of the
picket so that people could take part in he UK UnCut Starbucks demo
in Glasgow. UK UnCut have been making the links between tax
avoidance, cuts to public services and their impact on women. The
Starbucks PR machine has gone into overdrive saying that they will
pay a few more peanuts in tax in the next couple of years based on
their own estimates while they don't mention all the unpaid tax from
the past in their media releases. It has been revealed that the tax
payments will be paid for by cuts to the terms and conditions of the
Starbucks staff. The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is looking for
volunteer organisers to help them organise Starbucks staff to fight
these cuts c/o -
PO Box 7593, Glasgow G42 2EX
One person did manage to get inside the
Sauchiehall Street coffee shop with leaflets, but there was too many
police for a Refuge from the Cuts to be set up in this branch of
Starbucks. The demo moved on to create a noisy presence with cake
outside the Starbucks on Buchanan Street, another one of the main
shopping streets in Glasgow.
From there a few people went on to
picket the city centre furniture store of the British Heart
Foundation. The manager of the store aggressively told us we needed
a permit to hand out leaflets. This is another fake claim from BHF.
When we told him we didn't need one he told us he was then going to
ring the police and he stropped off phone in hand. Of course the
police never arrived. A customer said that the manager said we
were talking 'shit', but at the same time the manager had confirmed
that that they do use Workfare in that store. BHF have had 1500
placements on 'Mandatory Work Activity' and the 'Work Programme'.
Despite BHF claims, the schemes are not voluntary. BHF must know the
meaning of the word, 'mandatory'. All workfare companies have to
sign a contract saying that they will report anyone who does not show
up for the schemes, which automatically results in benefit claimants
having their benefits cut. BHF have vaguely stated that are 'moving
away' from workfare at some unspecified point in the future, but
hopefully this picket and others will bring their use of workfare to
a halt sooner rather than later. They have been pressurised in to
making another public statement, which could be a sign that they are
about to cave in.
We are already making plans for a
bigger Anti-Workfare campaign in the new year.
Claimants Resisting Unfair Treatment
Cuts and Harassment
A group of benefit claimants and
supporters in Glasgow
Hopefully we will have photos of the
picket here soon.
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