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From Boycott Workfare

Take action 8th December onwards

Many companies and charities have pulled out of the government’s workfare schemes when met with pickets and direct action that put these exploitative schemes in the spotlight.

But charities including British Heart Foundation, Scope and Barnardos and many companies like Poundland, Argos and Superdrug still subscribe to schemes which force the unemployed to “work for their benefits”. That’s why Boycott Workfare network are calling A Week of Action against Workfare, focusing especially on the charities involved.

You are urged to join the action which starts on Saturday, December 8th!

http://www.facebook.com/events/552862001405891/

You’re unemployed? Stand up against this exploitation: we won’t work for nothing to profit the rich! In work? Workfare attacks your wages and conditions, you could be sacked and replaced by workfare conscripts. If you care about human rights and dignity – join us. Our anti workfare actions are part of the global resistance to the austerity being imposed everywhere.

Why are we against workfare in Charities? We know first-hand what it really means.

Workfare helps hide swingeing cuts to support for charities by central government.

Real jobs that charity donors have paid to have carried out are forced onto the unemployed.

Many veteran volunteers have left British Heart Foundation in disgust as charity shops are swamped with unwilling conscripts. Workfare contradicts the voluntary ethos charities are supposed to uphold.

A claimant told us how his benefits were threatened after he left a Work Programme placement at BHF – where he was treated appallingly – and declined a placement at Barnardos. Only the intervention of Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty prevented him being left penniless.

Many charities are losing skilled volunteers – as they are being forced to instead do meaningless workfare at companies and even other charities! The unemployed lose real skill-learning opportunities to be compelled to stack shelves.

Since our latest actions were announced British Heart Foundation have announced they are “moving away” from the Mandatory Work Activity scheme. This is encouraging – but we need an assurance they have actually WITHDRAWN from ALL workfare schemes.

Read our blog on what’s wrong with charity workfare for more and check back as the week approaches for leaflets, and online action to take as well!

Our message is simple: If you exploit us, we will shut you down!

Please tweet, share, blog, spread the word!

Liverpool action already confirmed: http://www.facebook.com/events/535148439846906/

UK Uncut are also a day of action against tax dodging bastards Starbucks on the 8th December: http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/call-out-8-dec-refuge-from-the-cuts

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From 27 July to 12 August in Victoria Park, 28 July to 11 August in Hyde Park, and 29 August to 9 September in Trafalgar Square, BT London Live welcomes Londoners and visitors alike to watch The Games beamed live into the venues and enjoy an exciting range of entertainment.

BT London Live has something for everyone, from a variety of different live music acts to watching the 100 metres final on a 160m² screen, the 55m high BT Observation Wheel giving views of the Olympic Park, amazing outdoor spectacles, have-a-go sports, bungee trampolining, Zip Lines and Zorbing, plus al-fresco Sports Bars and much more. A great line up of artists are announced today, all presented by Absolute Radio & Magic 105.4. They include: The cast of ‘We Will Rock You’, Feeder, Dodgy, The Levellers, Cast, Amy Macdonald, Paul Carrack and Kenny Thomas. For details of days they are performing go to:  www.btlondonlive.com

Families with kids looking to try out new sports, Londoners wanting to catch up with the Games after a long day at work, or groups of friends wishing to catch their favourite music acts live – BT London Live will be the place to be in London during the Games.

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