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.
EDINBURGH ACTION – DEMONSTRATE AT BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION AT THE KIRKGATE SHOPPING CENTRE AT THE FOOT OF LEITH WALK, FROM 12 NOON ONWARDS SATURDAY 8th DECEMBER
HELP MAKE SURE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION GO THE WHOLE WAY
– together lets do it
A few months ago, British Heart Foundation was proud to say that “Around 1,000 of [people working in their shops] are on placements with us through Work Programme schemes and 600 [people working in their shops] are
placements on Mandatory Work Activity.”
But since September’s day of action against charity workfare, more and more volunteers, customers and members of the public have been speaking out against their exploitation of the unemployed. Comedian Mark Thomas even added his voice saying “BHF involvement in Workfare has undermined my trust and commitment to them as a campaigning group.” http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=1564
Our efforts are paying off and last week British Heart Foundation announced “Currently we are moving away from involvement in the mandatory work activity programme towards schemes which provide longer term voluntary placements.”
We want them to confirm publicly that they will end ALL placements which put people to work on threat of losing benefits. Please keep up the pressure until they do, and help make sure this charity which has profited from exploiting literally thousands of unemployed people pulls out of workfare entirely.
BHF Retail HQ – 01372 477 300
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bhf
Contact: http://www.bhf.org.uk/contact-us.aspx
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBHF
