Victory for Edinburgh Unemployed Over A4e

Tribunal overturns sanction and upholds right to representation   Claimants in Edinburgh have won a potentially crucial victory in the battle for the right of unemployed people to be represented at DWP provider A4e – thanks to the courageous stand taken by brave ex-miner Peter. An independent Tribunal has ruled that a claimant cannot have…Read moreRead more

Edinburgh Demo Against Privatisation of Services

Demo against privatisation of Edinburgh Council Services (with possible occupation) At Council meeting this Thursday 27th, demo from 8.30 am onwards, meeting starts 10 am At Council Chambers, High St. Environmental Services, including refuse collection and street cleansing, plus other services face privatisation.  This would mean redundancies, attacks on wages and conditions plus worse services. Demo…Read moreRead more

CAMPAIGNERS TAKE ACTION AGAINST CRIMINAL LANDLORDS

Community activists in Edinburgh have launched a campaign to lobby the City of Edinburgh Council for the effective enforcement of legislation against criminal landlords. Research by Edinburgh Private Tenants Action Group (EPTAG) has found that no landlord has ever been struck off the landlord register, despite some landlords committing criminal offences against their tenants. One…Read moreRead more

Huge Rise in JSA Sanctions as Government Cranks up its Attacks

A recent Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland briefing has reported a rise of 459% in sanctions against JSA claimants in a 2 year period. Between October 2008 and October 2010, the number of sanctions against JSA claimants increased from 10,700 a month to almost 60,000 as a result of some Jobcentre Plus offices setting targets for sanction referrals for JCP staff to achieve. That’s…Read moreRead more

Scottish Fuel Poverty Increases

From today’s Herald: The Westminster Government’s annual fuel poverty statistics, unveiled yesterday, show more than a quarter of Scotland’s 2.5 million households living in fuel poverty. The pressure group Energy Action Scotland predicts that following the big rises in gas and electricity prices announced recently, well over a third of Scots households will be fuel poor…Read moreRead more