London May Day 2012 - Against Workfare

MEET: 12:00pm @ Clerkenwell Green.
RE-CONVERGE: 16:00pm @ West One Shopping Centre (by Bond Street tube)

MAP OF LOCATIONS: http://g.co/maps/wx93f
On May Day we are calling on all those fighting back against the government's austerity plans to join us in taking direct action against companies participating in the workfare schemes. Instead of standing around and listening to speeches at the end of the TUC march we will be heading straight into the West end to regroup and start taking action.

Workfare is a range of government schemes that make people on benefits work for their dole. The government and some in the media present it as a way of encouraging people back into work by gaining experience. This ignores two things – first, there are not enough jobs available for those who want them; and second, workfare placements themselves are taking jobs away from paid workers.

The companies using workfare all make large profits. The work being done would need to be done anyway. By getting forced labour to do it for free, the companies' profits will grow. Their regular workers are often on low pay themselves and find their overtime cut and pay held back because of the forced labour schemes.

Bosses prefer not having to pay for workers. Instead, we are all paying to subsidise their profits. Protests have already forced some to pull out of the scheme. Let's make it all of them.

May Day became International Workers Day because of the anarchists killed by the US state during the struggle for the eight-hour working day. Now we are struggling to ensure that workers get paid and those out of work or unable to work are not forced to work for their benefits.

When the march has finished, instead of standing around to listen to the likes of Tony Benn bore on, head into the West end and start to target the companies benefiting from forced labour!

South London Solidarity Federation
North London Solidarity Federation
http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions/865
http://www.facebook.com/events/406395462721503/

National Conference: how do we break Workfare?

Organised by our friends at the Brighton Benefits Campaign, Saturday May 26th 11am-5pm at the The Railway Club, 4 Belmont, Brighton BN1 3TF.
Under the guise of ‘helping the unemployed back into work’ the government is rolling out various workfare schemes that will provide free labour for their rich corporate friends.  Many charities and even trade unions – who should know better – have been hoodwinked into supporting these schemes.

However, in March we saw the government forced on the back foot following revelations of widespread fraud at one of the main Work Programme providers and actions against high street companies involved in the Work Experience Programme. The fact that many companies quickly responded by either withdrawing from the scheme or announcing that they were reviewing their participation shows how vulnerable the government’s workfare programme is at the moment.


Brighton Benefits Campaign has been fighting workfare since our first campaign against the Flexible New Deal in 2010.  We have proved that acting against workfare gets results.

We believe that it is necessary to build on this success and break workfare before it becomes established. We have therefore organised a conference to bring together campaigners, voluntary groups, trade unions & others opposed to workfare, to share experiences and information and to co-ordinate a sustained national campaign.

All workfare, whether ‘voluntary’ or mandatory:

• is part of a concerted assault on welfare & public services
• is an attack on the right to proper paid work and an attack on real volunteering
• destroys paid jobs, & undermines the pay and conditions of those already in work
• is yet another generous government hand out for big business

www.solfed.org.uk

Second Day of Picketing Holland & Barrett in Brighton

On Saturday members of Brighton SolFed and Brighton Benefits Campaign picketed the North Street branch of Holland & Barrett. This was the second action in an on-going national campaign against the retailer’s continued use of unpaid workfare placements to reduce staff costs. The picket successfully turned away a large number of potential customers and we engaged many members of the public in discussion of the issues, the majority of whom were sympathetic to our message.


One passer-by, who was put on a workfare placement at a London branch of Holland & Barrett, told us that his Jobcentre Plus advisor made no reference to the fact that he could withdraw from the scheme within 7 days of the interview. He was also expected to work overtime at the branch, which left him no time to carry out the job searches required of him. After complaining about this he was taken off the scheme having only completed three weeks of the eight week placement, which goes to show that Jobcentres are taking an uncoordinated approach to the scheme.

We also talked to one passer-by who expressed the view – unfortunately not uncommon – that people should be required to work for their benefits. We reject this idea which attacks even the basic principle that under capitalism workers are entitled to a wage in return for their labour; this sets a dangerous precedent for eroding even further the living conditions of working class people.

Half way into the picket the store manager placed hastily written signs in the window saying that the store was open for business as usual and proclaiming that the staff worked there voluntarily and were not forced into it. This ignores the fact that for businesses workfare is about cutting costs and undermining the conditions and job-security of their existing staff; Holland and Barrett intend to take over 1000 workfare staff this year, a number equal to more than quarter of their workforce. The fact that he felt compelled to display these signs testifies to the effectiveness and growing momentum of the campaign, we responded by raising banners and flags in a show of solidarity.

SolFed and other groups across the country intend to keep up the pressure on Holland and Barrett and other companies who are taking advantage of workfare, to expose their attempts to undermine the conditions of workers and their role worsening the pressures of unemployment. The campaign will only stop when the company publicly withdraws from the scheme.

In addition to pickets we’re also calling on people to join us in expressing their demand for an end to workfare to Holland and Barrett directly by taking part in a phone and email blockade of their head office and HR department. …details to follow

Días de Acción de la AIT en el Reino Unido

En apoyo a los Días de Acción de la AIT en el Reino Unido, la Solidarity Federation convocó una campaña de acción directa contra el Workfare. La idea era usar los 3 Días de Acción de la AIT para lanzar una campaña concertada con el propósito de dar fin al trabajo no remunerado. Esto va en apoyo de la actual campaña de Boicot al Workfare que se está organizando en conjunción con numerosos otros grupos y organizaciones.
En un momento de paro juvenil sin precedentes en el Reino Unido, que ahora supera el 22%, el gobierno está subvencionando empresas mediante el envío de parados que trabajan para ellos sin salario, y con el nuevo Contrato Juvenil intenta expandir aún más estos esquemas.

La decisión sobre qué empresa elegir se dejó hasta justo antes de los Días de Acción para asegurarnos de que la compañía elegida no estuviera alerta sobre las manifestaciones y piquetes previstos. Tras una discusión en el seno de la Solidarity Federation, se decidió elegir la empresa Holland and Barrat, una importante cadena de tiendas de alto nivel que vende productos de salud. SolFed decidió elegir Holland and Barrat porque la empresa intenta tomar más de mil personas para que experimenten el empleo este año y con una fuerza de trabajo de alrededor de 4000, los trabajadores sin sueldo supondrán una porción significativa de su plantilla.
El 29 y 30 de marzo grupos de la SF y simpatizantes de todo el país distribuyeron información al personal de Holland & Barrat explicando los derechos básicos en el centro de trabajo. También se distribuyó un folleto a los clientes y a quienes pasaban por la puerta. Se puede descargar una copia del folleto en: http://www.solfed.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/workfarehb.pdf
El 31 de marzo hubo piquetes en las tiendas de Holland and Barrat de más de 20 ciudades de todo el Reino Unido. En algunos lugares, algunas tiendas de Holland & Barrat recibieron varios piquetes el mismo día. Por ejemplo, los miembros de la SF de Brighton se unieron a la Campaña a Beneficio de Brighton y otros para formar dos piquetes en las tiendas de Holland and Barrat en North Street y London Road. Con el piquete de North Street, en el que participaron alrededor de 20 personas, y la tienda más pequeña de London Road, que recibió un piquete de unos doce, ambas acciones contaron con buena participación y triunfaron a la hora de hacer que un considerable número de clientes potenciales se diera la vuelta, aumentando el perfil de la campaña anti-workfare.
Los piquetes en general fueron bien recibidos, con miles de folletos anti-workfare en circulación. Por ejemplo, en Kilburn un miembro del público se detuvo y durante media hora nos ayudó a repartir unos cuantos folletos. Otros aprovecharon la oportunidad para entrar en la tienda y expresar su insatisfacción directamente al gerente de servicio de Holland and Barrat en ese momento. De numerosos piquetes llegaron historias similares del apoyo del público.
En un par de sitios los piquetes consiguieron cerrar las tiendas. En Londres, una tienda local de Holland & Barrat cerró cuando más de 20 SLSF y compañeros comenzaron a gritar, corear y repartir folletos. En varios lugares Holland & Barrat hizo débiles intentos que pretendían contrarrestar la efectividad de los piquetes. En el Holland & Barrat de Halifax había un miembro del personal en la puerta para “dar la bienvenida a los compradores”. Estas patéticas contra-medidas solamente sirvieron para mostrar cuan preocupados están Holland and Barrat por el impacto de los piquetes.
La Solidarity Federation espera seguir construyendo sobre el éxito de los piquetes a Holland & Barrat y aspira a unirse a otra campaña y grupos anarquistas para establecer piquetes a las empresas que usan el esquema del Workfare. En lunes 2 de abril hubo un piquete en la sede central del reformista Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Comunicación para protestar por su apoyo al Workfare. El primero de muchos más piquetes que estamos dispuestos a montar hasta que el gobierno se vea forzado a retirar el esquema Workfare por completo.
Hay más información, sobre algunos otros piquetes, disponible en las páginas sobre Workfare del sitio web de la SolFed: http://www.solfed.org.uk/?q=campaigns/workfare

IWA Days of Action in the UK

In support of the IWA Days of action in the UK, the Solidarity Federation called for campaign of direct action against workfare. The idea was to use the IWA 3 Days of action to launch a concerted campaign to put an end to unpaid work. This is in support of the ongoing Boycot Workfare campaign, that  is being organised in conjunction with numerous other groups and organisations.
At a time of unprecedented youth unemployment in the UK , which now stands at over 22%, the government is subsidising businesses by sending the unemployed to work for them without pay and with the new Youth Contract it intends to expand these schemes even further.

The decision on which company to target was left to just before the Days of action to ensure that the company chosen were not alerted to the planned demos and pickets. After discussion within the Solidarity Federation it was decided to target the company Holland and Barratt a major high street chain of shops selling health products. The SolFed decided to target Holland and Barratt because the company intends to take over 1000 people on work experience this year and with a workforce of around 4000, unpaid workers will comprise a significant portion of their staff.
On the 29thn & 30th March SF groups and supporters around the country distributed information to Holland & Barrett staff explaining basic workplace rights. A leaflet was also distributed to customers and passers by. A copy of the leaflet can be down loaded at : http://www.solfed.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/workfarehb.pdf
On the 31st March Holland & Barrett shops in over 20 cities and towns across the UK were picketed. In some places several Holland & Barrett shops were picketed on the same day.  For example in Brighton SF members came together with Brighton Benefits Campaign and others to form two pickets at the North Street and London Road branches of Holland and Barratt. With the North Street picket attended to by around 20 people and the smaller branch at London Road picketed by about a dozen, both were well attended and succeeded in turning away a considerable number of potential customers and raising the profile of the anti-workfare campaign.
The Pickets in generally were well received with thousands of anti-workfare leaflets distributed. For example in Kilburn one member of the public stopped by for half and hour to help us do some leafleting. Others took the opportunity to go into the store and express their dissatisfaction directly to the Holland and Barrett manager on duty at the time. Similar stories of public support were recived from numerous pickets.
In a couple of places the pickets managed to close down stores. In London one local Holland & Barrett store closed as 20+ SLSF and comrades chanted, sang and dished out leaflets. In various places Holland & Barrett made feeble attempts aimed at trying to counter the effectiveness of the pickets. In Halifax Holland & Barrett had a member of staff on the door to "welcome shoppers." These pathetic counter measures only served to show just how worried Holland and Barrett were about the impact the pickets.
The Solidarity Federation hopes to build on the success of the Holland & Barrett pickets and aims to join with other campaigning and anarchist groups to step up the pickets on the companies using the workfare scheme.   On Monday April 2nd a picket of the headquarters of the reformist Communication Workers Union was held to protest over their support for workfare. The first of many more pickets we are determined to mount until the government is forced to withdraw the whole of the workfare scheme.
Further accounts of some other pickets are available on the Workfare pages of the SolFed website: http://www.solfed.org.uk/?q=campaigns/workfare

London Mayday 2012 - Against Workfare

On Mayday we are calling on all those fighting back against the government's austerity plans to join us in taking direct action against companies participating in the workfare schemes. Instead of standing around and listening to speeches at the end of the TUC march we will be heading straight into the West end to regroup and start taking action.

Workfare is a range of government schemes that make people on benefits work for their dole. The government and some in the media present it as a way of encouraging people back into work by gaining experience. This ignores two things – first, there are not enough jobs available for those who want them; and second, workfare placements themselves are taking jobs away from paid workers.


The companies using workfare all make large profits. The work being done would need to be done anyway. By getting forced labour to do it for free, the companies' profits will grow. Their regular workers are often on low pay themselves and find their overtime cut and pay held back because of the forced labour schemes.

Bosses prefer not having to pay for workers. Instead, we are all paying to subsidise their profits. Protests have already forced some to pull out of the scheme. Let's make it all of them.

Mayday became International Workers Day because of the anarchists killed by the US state during the struggle for the eight-hour working day. Now we are struggling to ensure that workers get paid and those out of work or unable to work are not forced to work for their benefits.

We will be releasing a map of companies participating in the scheme over the next few weeks. So when the march has finished, instead of standing around to listen to the likes of Tony Benn bore on, head into the West end and start to target the companies benefiting from forced labour!

South London Solidarity Federation, North London Solidarity Federation

https://london.indymedia.org/events/12040
http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions/865
http://www.facebook.com/events/406395462721503/

Join us in Worthing for the Carnival for Choice!

Next Sunday (15th April) Brighton Solidarity Federation will be supporting the Carnival for Choice! in Worthing.

Carnival for Choice! is part of Brighton Pro Choice’s ongoing campaign against the anti-choice group Abort67. The group, based around a right-wing Christian church in Worthing, often protest outside the Brighton BPAS clinic. They are known for using US-style anti-choice tactics including photographing people entering the clinic and banners featuring graphic images of aborted foetuses to try and dissuade women from exercising their right to choose. Their aim is to have abortion outlawed, no matter the circumstances.

The Solidarity Federation sees attacks on women’s rights as an attack on all workers everywhere. Despite the limitations of abortion law as it stands, we will defend it against all attacks from the right and fight for the real right to choose.
We will be there on Sunday with our banner and our band, please join the Carnival and show Abort67 that their bullying tactics are not acceptable here or anywhere.

Brighton Pro Choice Carnival for Choice! facebook event

Британия: Против принудительных общественных работ

В рамках общенационального дня действий против общественных работ и дней действий Международной ассоциации трудящихся (МАТ) Федерация солидарности Южного Лондона (SLSF) пикетировала "Holland and Barrett" в Кэтфорде.

Одновременно по всей стране прошли акции протеста с участием 20 местных организаций Федерации солидарности (SF, британская секция МАТ) и др. групп.
Протестующим удалось перехитрить крупное скопление  сотрудников безопасности в Торговом центре Левисхэма, переместившись вниз по дороге к Кэтфорду, где началась шумная демонстрация перед местным "Holland & Barrett". Когда анархо-синдикалисты и др. товарищи принялись заряжать кричалки, петь и раздавать листовки, магазин закрылся. Многие прохожие поддержали необходимость действий против принудительного труда, особенно в районе, который имеет один из самых высоких уровней безработицы в стране.
Через час в магазине был частично открыт, и стали заходить покупатели. Протестующие пообещали возвращаться к "Holland and Barrett" до тех, пока компания не откажется от общественных работ во всех их коварных формах и не станет платить своим сотрудникам  надлежащую заработную плату.



В Килбёрне, Северо-Западный Лондон, также состоялся пикет против "Holland and Barret", организованный Федерацией солидарности Северного Лондона, к которой присоединились члены Индустриальных рабочих мира и кампании "Бойкот общественным работам" (Boycott Workfare). Всего собралось более двадцати пикетчиков, которые пришли c заготовленными флагами, в специальных рабочих куртках и с различными баннерами, осуждающими эксплуататорский характер различных правительственных схем общественных работ. В ходе  акции были розданы около 1000 листовок. Потенциальным клиентам в продолжение всего пикета приходилось делать покупки в другом месте.
Реакция публики была исключительно позитивной. Один из прохожих даже остановился на полчаса, чтобы помочь  раздать листовки. Другие, пользуясь возможностью зайти в магазин, выражали свое недовольство непосредственно дежурному администратору в "Holland and Barret".
Пикеты по призыву SF состоялись более чем перед двадцатью магазинами "Holland and Barret" по всей стране, и всё, что мы можем сказать "Holland and Barret": это только начало. Покиньте программу общественных работ или ждите проблем. Как заявил представитель "Бойкот
общественным работам" (Boycott Workfare): "Если вы нас эксплуатируете, мы вас закроем".

В субботу, 31 марта, во время обеденного перерыва члены Индустриальных рабочих мира в Клайдсайде, Анархистской федерации и Федерации солидарности пикетировали филиал "Holland & Barrett" на Квин-Стрит в Глазго. Благодаря пикету, некоторые люди развернулись прямо у входа магазина. Люди держали плакаты: "Общественные работы в H&B. Найми трех и одного получи бесплатно", сделанные в стиле рекламы "Holland &  Barrett", в планах которой до четверти своих работников использовать на бесплатной основе. На другом плакате было написано: "Скажи нет общественным работам в "Holland & Barrett". Участники раздали 500 листовок, подробно рассказывающих об использовании "Holland & Barrett" неоплачиваемого труда. Некоторые прохожие останавливались спросить, в связи с чем пикет. Одним из таких людей оказалась одна сотрудница "Holland & Barrett", направлявшаяся на смену. Она рассказала, что у них в магазине была одна такая девушка, но теперь она получила постоянную работу. Пикетчики отметили, что, как правило, до 80% практикантов в "Holland & Barrett" постоянных контрактов не получают, также говорили об их
планах принять в следующем году дополнительно 1000
сотрудников-практикантов, и как это может повлиять на часы постоянных сотрудников. Менеджер пыталась указывать участникам отойти от входа, но те просто игнорировали ее. В конечном счете, предпринимая  жалкие попытки показать, кто здесь хозяин, она принялась блефовать, утверждая, что полиция уже в пути, хотя в том, что делаем участники пикета, не было ничего, даже отдаленно, незаконного.
В выходные дни по всей Великобритании прошло более 20 акций против общественных работ, которые были частью продолжающейся кампании. Эти акции являются частью общенационального дня действий, организованного по призыву Федерации солидарности. Акции были связаны с международными днями действий против мер жесткой экономии, организованными Международной ассоциацией трудящихся, которые включали всеобщую забастовку в Испании 29 марта и M31 - Европейский день действий против капитализма.

www.aitrus.info

Catford Holland and Barrett picket

As part of the national day of action against workfare and the IWA days of action, SLSF picketed Holland and Barrett along with 20 other SF locals and others around the country.


A heavy security presence in Lewisham Shopping Centre was outwitted when protesters moved down the road to Catford where a noisy demonstration began outside the local Holland & Barrett.  The store closed as 20+ SLSF and comrades chanted, sang and dished out leaflets.  Many people passing supported the need to take action against forced labour, particularly in a borough which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
After an hour the store was partially opened but few customers entered. Protesters vowed to keep coming back until Holland &  Barrett reject workfare in all it’s insidious forms and pay their staff a proper wage.

Communication Workers Union HQ picketed in protest against workfare at Royal Mail

On Monday April 2nd members of London SF, Solent SF and the IWW joined Boycott Workfare activists to picket the headquarters of the Communication Workers Union over their support for workfare.


CWU officials have signed an agreement with the Royal Mail to allow DWP "Work Experience". People on the scheme face the threat of sanctions for refusal and if they do not take part they are likely to be sent on a number of other compulsory schemes.

The CWU leadership insists that their agreement with Royal Mail is for "voluntary" work experience only. Unless there is a guarantee that people leaving the scheme will not face sanctions the scheme is not voluntary. No such guarantee is in place.

Until CWU and the Royal Mail withdraw from workfare schemes our fight against it will continue.

The picket took place as part of the Solidarity Federation's campaign against all types of the government's workfare schemes.  Two days prior to the CWU picket, SF locals and supporters around the country picketed over 20 Holland and Barrett stores as part of an effort to pressure the company to pull out of the program. To read more about SF's anti-workfare campaign see http://www.solfed.org.uk/?q=campaigns/workfare

If you want to get involved, please contact us at solfed (at) solfed.org.uk

Report on 31 March workfare pickets in Brighton and Hastings

On Saturday Brighton SolFed held three separate pickets of Holland and Barratt stores in Brighton and in Hastings in response to their continued use of unpaid workfare placements to reduce staff costs. Across the country SolFed locals and other groups took part in a day of action to highlight the use of workfare by high street companies.

The national day of action was called by SolFed to coincide with the International Workers’ Association (of which SolFed is the British section) days of action which included the general strike in Spain called by our Spanish section, the CNT.

BRIGHTON

In Brighton we came together with Brighton Benefits Campaign and others – one person coming from as far as Chichester – to form two pickets at the North Street and London Road branches of Holland and Barratt. With the North Street picket attended to by around 20 people and the smaller branch at London Road picketed by about a dozen, both were well attended and succeeded in turning away a considerable number of potential customers and raising the profile of the anti-workfare campaign.
Before the picket we produced a letter that we gave to staff to explain our intentions and outside we distributed a leaflet to customers and passers-by which is available here: http://www.solfed.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/workfarehb.pdf

Saturday’s pickets saw the first performances of the Brighton SolFed’s new Industrial Grievance Band, playing traditional songs of the labour movement including Solidarity Forever, There is Power in the Union and the Spanish anti-fascist song A Las Barricadas. The atmosphere on the day was lively, attracting the attention of passers-by who stopped to talk and even join in with a song or two.
The manager at the North road took particular exception to our picket and called the ‘city centre ambassadors’ (another name for retail security) to intimidate us into leaving; when they failed he produced a sign pushing the government and the businesses’ line that workfare is voluntary. Even if this were true, the work experience scheme is just the thin end of the wedge and remains a threat to all workers’ jobs, pay and conditions.

HASTINGS

In Hastings members of Brighton Solfed and Hastings Anarchists picketed the Holland and Barrett store on Queens Road. The store is fairly small with a narrow pavement and bus stops outside. The manager of the shop called the police as members distributed the letters aimed at the store’s staff, having been instructed to do so by management as soon as pickets turned up. We stayed there for an hour and gave out 300 leaflets. We then went and did the same outside Macdonalds, another company that has used workfare staff in its stores.

At the Hastings picket the response from the public was mixed which raised a couple of issues that we need to consider in order to make the campaign work in Hastings and other areas of high unemployment: people who were critical of our picket tended only to understand our action in terms of us defending the rights of 'lazy, unemployable' people and in terms of us seeking to deny young unemployable adults the opportunity to get some experience in work.

In areas of high unemployment and deep social problems, divisions between workers can create a responsive audience for the government's scape-goating. We realise that it is important to talk about why the government has created long term widespread benefit dependency and what the result has been for our class, as well as why the government has brought in these workfare schemes to exercise greater control over their lives while subsidising private companies.

At a time of unprecedented youth unemployment, which now stands at over 22%, the government is subsidising businesses by sending the unemployed to work for them without pay and with the new Youth Contract it intends to expand these schemes even further. Holland and Barratt intend to take over 1000 people on work experience this year and with a workforce of around 4000, unpaid workers will comprise a significant portion of their staff.

In the build-up to the campaign members of the Brighton local and the SolFed unwaged network helped to produce a range of resources that attempt explain the extent and nature of the attack on workers’ that the workfare policies represents, and they have been edited into a pdf. This is just the beginning of the fight against workfare.

Accounts of some other pickets are available on the Workfare pages of the SolFed website: http://bit.ly/SFworkfare

Kilburn Anti-Workfare picket a success

Last Saturday, the North London Solidarity Federation was joined by members of the Industrial Workers of the World and Boycott Workfare for a mid-day picket of the Holland and Barrett in Kilburn, North West London.

Picketers numbered over twenty in total and came prepared with flags, hi-vis jackets, and various banners decrying the exploitative nature of the government's various workfare schemes. Nearly 1000 leaflets were handed out over the course of the action and throughout the picket prospective customers were persuaded to do their shopping elsewhere.


Public response was overwhelmingly positive. One member of the public even stopped by for half and hour to help us do some leafleting. Others took the opportunity to go into the store and express their dissatisfaction directly to the Holland and Barrett manager on duty at the time.

With SF calling pickets at over twenty Holland and Barrett shops all around the country, our message to Holland and Barrett is simple: this is just the start. Pull out of the workfare scheme or expect further disruption. As Boycott Workfare says, “If you exploit us, we will shut you down".

Glasgow Picket Against Holland & Barrett Workfare Report

Members of Clydeside Industrial Workers of the World, the Anarchist Federation and Solidarity Federation picketed the Queen Street branch of Holland & Barrett at lunchtime on Saturday 31^st March. We managed to turn some people away at the entrance. We had placards proclaiming 'The H&B Workfare Deal, Employ Three, Get One Free' in the style of Holland and Barrett advertising as Holland and Barrett plan to have a quarter of their workers as unpaid labour. Another placard said, 'Say No To Workfare At Holland and Barrett'. We gave out 500 leaflets detailing Holland & Barrett use of unpaid labour. A number of people stopped to ask what the picket was about. A member of the Holland & Barrett staff was one of these people on her way in to start her shift. She said that one girl had been on work experience at the store, but that she had got a permanent job. We pointed out generally Holland and Barrett have not given permanent contracts to 80% of people on work experience, their plans to introduce a 1000 more work experience people in the next year and how that could affect the hours of the permanent staff. The manager tried to tell us to move away from the entrance, but we just ignored her. In a final pathetic attempt to show us who was boss she bluffed that the police were on their way, even though there was nothing remotely illegal about what we were doing.


There were over 20 actions against workfare over the weekend around Britain that will be part of an ongoing campaign. These actions were part of a national day of action called by the Solidarity Federation. The actions tied in with the international days of action against austerity called by the International Workers Association that included the general strike in Spain on March 29^th, and the M31 European Day of Action Against Capitalism.

Report with photo here:
http://thecrutchcollective.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/glasgow-picket-against-holland-barrett.html

Дни действий МАТ в Британии

В рамках дней действий Международной ассоциации трудящихся против всемирного наступления на права работников, члены Федерации солидарности SF (британской секции МАТ) провели акции против систему принудительных общественных работ для безработных. По сути дела, речь идет об использовании рабского и почти дарового труда вместо того, чтобы предоставить нуждающимся полноценные рабочие места.
В Галифаксе члены Федерации солидарности Западного Йоркшира и Хаддерсфилдские анархисты пикетировали 31 марта "Holland and Barrett". Реакция общественности в целом была хорошей; было роздано 250 листовок. У дверей H&B поставил сотрудника "приветствовать покупателей", что явно продемонстрировало беспокойство фирмы в связи с акцией протеста. Один человек, взяв листовку, взял ее с собой в местный центр занятости и пустил там по кругу. Видимо, она пошла хорошо. Еще один отклик на акцию был получен от бывшей сотрудницы H&B, которая заявила, что это никуда не годный работодатель и решение уйти от них было ее лучшим поступком, который она когда-либо совершала. Организаторы акции завили, что это не конец, и они продолжат пикеты перед различными отделениями H&B (а также другими компаниями, использующими рабский труд), пока те не
прекратят использование неоплачиваемого рабского труда.




В Бристоле члены местной Федерации солидарности, Бристольской анархистской федерации, Альянса против сокращений (Бристоль и окрестности), Борьбы молодежи за рабочие места, ИРМ, движения "Право на труд" и др. активисты вышли на улицы в рамках борьбы против поставщиков общественных работ. В сопровождении полиции, группа из 40 человек направилась прямиком к
"Holland and Barrett", расположенному в шикарном Кэбот-Циркус. Ошеломленных покупателей порадовали панк-классикой, и те с радостью принимали любую литературу с изложением вреда общественных работ. После этого демонстрация перетекла в пикет против некоторых городских торговцев бедностью. Целями стали Primark, McDonalds, Greggs, Wilkinson's и еще один Holland & Barrett. До тех пор, пока угроза неоплачиваемо-обязательного бесплатного труда не исчезнет, эти паразитические компании будут оставаться нашей главной мишенью, заявили организаторы акции



В Ливерпуле к пикету членов Федерации солидарности Ливерпуля присоединились и другие активисты. Они распространили в трех местах около 800 листовок. Прежде чем вернуться в центр города, чтобы заняться двумя отделениями "Holland and Barrett", они выбрали в качестве первой мишени магазин ASDA в Уэвертри (Wavertree). Когда они начали протест перед ASDA, полиция была уже там, но после того, как участники ответили "нет" на ее дьявольски деликатный вопрос: "Вас здесь достаточно много, чтобы устроить беспорядки?", она оставила их в покое. Так было, пока из магазина не вышли менеджер и несколько сотрудников службы безопасности в расчете запугать протестующих. Некоторые охранники фактически выталкивали клиентов, чтобы участники протеста не смогли вручить им листовки. После жалоб менеджера полиция стала угрожать пикетчикам арестом, если те не
перейдут на другую сторону дороги, поскольку они-де незаконно вторглись во владения ASDA. Затем несколько часов протестующие распространяли литературу и беседовали с прохожими, которые в основном были очень восприимчивы и в целом соглашались с проводимой кампанией против принудительных общественых работ.
Вернувшись в центр города, пикетчики занялись двумя отделениями "Holland and Barrett". Им удалось убедить многих людей отказаться покупок в магазине и доказать им, что компания использует неоплачиваемый труд, чтобы разрушить обычные рабочие места, и терпеть такое ни в коем случае нельзя. Акция прошла успешно. Но, в конечном счете, это только начало, говорят организаторы. Общественные работы остаются серьезным фактором в текущей атаке на рабочий класс, и этот день действий должен означать начало длительной кампании. "Мы
вернемся - в центр города, в Уэвертри и другие районы. Не только с пикетами, но как организация - так что, пока не прекратятся общественные работы, оппозиция против них также никуда не исчезнет".



В Манчестере 30 марта члены SF раскидали листовки в магазине "Holland and Barret", который собирались пикетировать на следующий день, и побеседовали с работниками в магазине. После этого они пошли раздавать листовки в соседних магазинах и снова
разговаривали с работниками. Затем они отправились распространять листовки по магазинам в центре Манчестера.
31 марта они пикетировали магазин "Holland and Barret" в центре Манчестера и раздали несколько сотен листовок. Пикет сопровождался обычной рутиной: вышла менеджер, попросила пикетчиков уйти, те отказались. Тогда она вызвала полицию, последовал несколько оживленный обмен мнениями, и так далее.

www.aitrus.info

Manchester SolFed support IWA days of action

We had hoped to support the CNT and the general strike in Spain only to find that the Spanish Consulate has been closed. On the 30th, we leafleted the Holland and Barret shop we were going to picket the following day and had a chat with the workers in the shop. We leafleted then went on to leaflet the shops close by again talking to workers. We then went on to leaflet shops round the centre of Manchester.

On 31 we picketed a Holland and Barret shop in the centre of Manchester. We gave out several hundred leaflets. The picket followed the usual routine: manager came out, asked us to leave, we refused. She then called police a bit of a heated exchange and so on. One person who had just finished a Warkfare programme stopped to have a go at the police and went into the shop to have a go at the manager. 

Bristol - Abolish Workfare demo targets Holland and Barrett

Joining with actions across the country against Workfare, members of Bristol Solidarity Federation, Bristol Anarchist Federation, Bristol & District Anti Cuts Alliance, Youth Fight for Jobs, The IWW (union), Right to Work and others took to the streets as part of the fight-back against the Workfare providers.


Escorted by the police throughout, the 40 strong group headed straight for a Holland and Barrett's in the swanky Cabot Circus. Bemused shoppers were treated to punk classics from the wheeley-bin sound-system and gladly accepted a variety of literature outlining the perils of Workfare. Then the march headed-off to picket more of the cities Workfare poverty-peddlers. Primark, McDonalds, Greggs, Wilkinson's and another Holland and Barrett were targeted.

Until the threat of unpaid-mandatory free labour is lifted we will continue to target the these parasitic companies.

Combating workfare in Liverpool (31/3/2012)

Members of Liverpool Solidarity Federation were joined on pickets by other activists today as part of the Solfed national day of action against workfare. We distributed around 800 leaflets across three sites. Our first target was an ASDA store in Wavertree before returning to the city centre in order to target two branches of Holland and Barrett.


As we began our ASDA protest the Police were already in attendance, but after we answered ‘no’ to their fiendishly subtle question, “Are you lot here to cause a disturbance”, they generally left us alone. That was until the store manager and several security staff came out in an attempt to intimidate us. Some of the security staff actually physically pushed customers out of our way to prevent us giving them our leaflets.

After complaints from the store manager, the Police threatened us with arrest if we didn’t move to the other side of the store onto the public highway, as we were trespassing on ASDA property. We then spent a couple of hours distributing our literature and talking with passers-by, who in the main were very receptive and in general agreement with our campaign.

We returned to the city centre and targeted two branches of Holland and Barrett. We were able to convince a number of people not to shop in the store and drive the point home that companies using unpaid labour to undermine jobs and conditions would not be tolerated.

Today's action was a success. But, ultimately, it was just the beginning. Despite a number of high profile drop outs, workfare remains a serious factor in the ongoing attacks on the working class and this day of action has to mark the start of a sustained campaign. We will be back - in the City Centre, in Wavertree, and in other areas. Not just picketing, but organising - so that until workfare goes away, the opposition to it doesn't either.

Holland and Barrett Picket in Halifax

Members of West Yorkshire Solidarity Federation were joined by Huddersfield Anarchists to picket Holland and Barrett in Halifax today as part the anti workfare campaign in conjunction with the IWA days of action.
We were met with a good response overall and gave out 250 leaflets. H&B had a member of staff on the door to "welcome shoppers" which shows they were worried we'd have an impact.

One person who we gave a leaflet to took it to the local Job Centre and handed it round. It apparently went down well. Other feedback included an ex member of staff at H&B who stated that they were a rubbish employer and leaving was the best thing she'd ever done.

This isn't the end, we will continue to hold pickets at various H&B branches (as well as other slave labour companies ) until they stop using unpaid slave labour.

www.solfed.org.uk

Пикет "Ryanair Don't Care" в Ливерпульском аэропорту имени Джона Леннона

17 марта, в завершение недели действий против "Ryanair" Федерация солидарности Ливерпуля (Sf) и организатор кампании "Ryanair Don't Care" Джон Фоли пикетировали Ливерпульский аэропорт имени Джона Леннона.


Хотя акция носила не столь сенсационный характер, как предыдущая, она прошла успешно, сумев донести главный смысл: Положить конец мошенничеству "Ryanair" с наймом сотрудников!
Около полудня мы расположились с баннерами и плакатами перед Залом вылетов и стали раздавать листовки входившим и выходившим из аэропорта людям. Это быстро привлекла внимание полиции, хотя на этот раз лошади им не потребовались, и нам разрешили провести пикет без перерывов.

Те, кто брал наши листовки, как правило, реагировали с пониманием. Многие даже просили рассказать поподробнее и выражали симпатии к кампании. Те, кому мы давали листовки, включая членов экипажей "Ryanair", рассказали, что наше присутствие стало предметом  множества разговоров, и люди ждали, что мы попытаемся пройти в аэропорт. На несколько минут к нам также присоединились испанские туристы, которые, увидев наши флаги, принялись интересоваться, не анархисты ли мы, и оказались членами нашей испанской секции, CNT!
Акция с участием Джона и нескольких товарищей из Sf завершилась у входа в аэропорт, перед кассами авиакомпании "Ryanair".

В конце дня Джон сказал: "Спасибо всем, кто принял участие в неделе действия. Я испытываю гордость за поддержку и самоотверженную работу всех вас". Этим  завершилась неделя действий в Ливерпуле, но кампания против "Ryanair" будет продолжаться, пока не прекратится мошенничество с наймом сотрудников!

Другие фотографии с недели действия можно посмотреть здесь, на Facebook странице Федерации солидарности Мерси
(http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.326718694043169.66410.100001151247773&type=1).
Вы все еще можете отправить протесты по электронной почте, через факс и позвонить по телефону.

Акция против общественных работ в Брайтоне

По призыву кампании "Бойкот общественным работам" (www.boycottworkfare.org/) 3 марта стало общенациональным днем действий против общественных работ. В Брайтоне члены Федерации солидарности (SF) отправились на Джубили стрит, чтобы поддержать пикет кампании "Brighton Benefits" перед "Tesco".


Пришло более 50 человек. Значительный социалистический блок прошел маршем от "Tesco" на Сент-Джеймс стрит до Джубили стрит, отправившись затем к "Макдональдс". Так как собравшихся у "Tesco" было еще много, вместе с еще одной группой нам удалось устроить пикет перед магазином "Tesco" на Квинс Роуд. Этого оказалось достаточно, чтобы отпугнуть покупателей: внутри магазина остался всего один человек, находившийся у кассы.

В целом, пикеты в Брайтоне удалось организовать, по крайней мере, перед 3 магазинами "Tesco" и одним "Макдональдсом". Подобные акции прошли более чем в 30 городах, став крупнейшей за последнее время скоординированной кампанией против общественных работ. Активисты стремятся не ослаблять давление. Брайтонские анархо-синдикалисты призвали к проведению 31 марта общенационального дня действий с акцентом на протестах против общественных работ, связав его со Всемирным днем действий против жесткой экономии, эксплуатации и угнетения, который организуется по призыву Международной ассоциации трудящихся, и Днем действий против капитализма 31 марта.