The Solidarity Federation (the UK section of the Internati onal Workers Association) is launching days of action against the govern ment's controversial Workfare scheme.
\nIn Newcastle members of th
e Solidarity Federation are concentrating on health food chain Holland a
nd Barrett\,
who are to benefit hugely from the scheme.
Hol land and Barrett are set to become the biggest exploiters of unpaid labo ur with plans to take on thousands of work placements under the Tory Gov ernments controversial workfare scheme. With over 1000 workfare placemen ts mooted\, this amounts to 1 in 4 staff in Holland and Barrett drawn fr om the unemployed\, forced to work for nothing to retain their meagre be nefits.
\nThe government claims that Workfare provides people with valuable workplace experience that will make it much easier for them to find permanent employment. But this is just lies. Even the governments own research found that Workfare schemes made it harder not easier for j obseekers to find work.
\nA UK Government study into Workfare in t he USA\, Canada and Australia found that Workfare can reduce employment chances by limiting the time available for job search and by failing to provide the skills and experience valued by employers. The same study al so found that Workfare is particularly ineffective at leading to work du ring periods of high unemployment.
\nSol Fed members are asking ot hers to join them on a demonstration outside the Holland &\; Barrett store on the Bigg Market on Saturday 31st of March\, 2-5pm.
\nhttp://www. solfed.org.uk/?q=newcastle-workfare-picket
\n\;
URL:http://www.northern-indymedia.org/events/2500 SUMMARY:Newcastle Workfare Picket LOCATION:outside Holland and Barrett
11 Bigg Market
Newcastl
e NE1 1UN