{"id":383,"date":"2015-02-15T21:33:56","date_gmt":"2015-02-15T21:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=383"},"modified":"2017-08-07T21:43:15","modified_gmt":"2017-08-07T21:43:15","slug":"solidarity-with-unemployed-activist-arrested-for-representing-a-jobseeker-day-of-action-at-jobcentres-britain-wide-25-february-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=383","title":{"rendered":"Solidarity with Unemployed Activist Arrested for Representing a jobseeker: Day of Action at Jobcentres Britain-wide 25 February 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Solidarity protest at Arbroath Job Centre<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Scottish Unemployed Workers Network activist Tony Cox was arrested on 29th January after Arbroath Jobcentre management called police to stop him representing a vulnerable jobseeker. \u00a0We urge you to join a Day of Action on 25th February at Jobcentres round Britain to show your solidarity.<\/span><\/p>\n

We must fight back against this clear attempt to intimidate claimants and deny us the right to be accompanied and represented. \u00a0Tony will be in court in Forfar on 25th February facing charges of \u00a0“threatening behaviour, refusing to give his name and address and resisting arrest”. \u00a0 That same day we call on people to descend on jobcentres round Britain to show solidarity with Tony and distribute info to claimants urging all to exercise the right to be accompanied and represented at all benefits interviews.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

EDINBURGH ACTIVITY ON 25 FEB – PLEASE JOIN US<\/span><\/p>\n

High Riggs Jobcentre, by Tollcross : 10am – 12 noon<\/span><\/p>\n

Leith Jobcentre, Commercial St : 9am – 11am<\/span><\/p>\n

Musselburgh Jobcentre : 2pm – 3pm<\/span><\/p>\n

St Andrews Street Jobcentre : 11am – 1pm<\/span><\/p>\n

Please contact\u00a0ecap@lists.riseup.net<\/a>\u00a0if you would like to help at any Edinburgh or Lothians jobcentre.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As we face unprecedented sanctions and benefits cuts, its more important than ever that we support each other and stand up to the DWP bullies. \u00a0The Scottish Unemployed Workers Network, Dundee Against Welfare Sanctions and other groups have established a strong presence at the Jobcentres in Dundee and in nearby towns and cities like Arbroath, Perth and Blairgowrie, supporting claimants in opposing sanctions and harassment.<\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT HAPPENED AT ARBROATH JOB CENTRE<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

On 29 January Tony was accompanying a vulnerable woman claimant, who suffers from severe dyslexia and literacy problems. The claimant, D, had been signed up to the Universal Job Match (UJM), the computerised job search system, and was being forced to complete five job searches per day, the pressure of which had led to her having several panic attacks. \u00a0Tony proposed that D’s UJM account be closed, and that her number of job searches be significantly reduced. \u00a0The adviser refused to consider this, and so Tony and D met with the Jobcentre manager.<\/span><\/p>\n

The manager likewise refused to even look at the issue, falsely claiming that all jobseekers had to be registered with UJM. \u00a0She even suggested to D that she should arrange another meeting without Tony or any other witness or rep present. Despite the pressure D was being put under by the manager, she replied that she would not attend another meeting without Tony. At this point the manager demanded that Tony leave the building or the police would be called. Tony refused to leave, but the meeting ended when it was agreed that a further meeting be arranged to discuss the issue further. \u00a0Tony was arrested after he left the Jobcentre.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE RIGHT TO BE ACCOMPANIED<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The right of claimants to be accompanied to interviews, and for the accompanier to have the right to speak, has been established by groups like Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty, who have forced the DWP locally and Britain-wide to apologise for calling the police on ECAP reps, and\u00a0to affirm claimants right to representation<\/a>.\u00a0 The DWP\u00a0clearly state<\/a>\u00a0“Claimants accessing Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits and services can have someone to accompany them to act on their behalf…”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The attack on benefits and claimants is part of the austerity assault on the entire working class. \u00a0We call on all unemployed and claimants groups, anti cuts and anti austerity groups, human rights groups, workplace activists, and all working class people, waged and unwaged, to show solidarity with Tony and the right of the unemployed and all claimants to organise collectively to fight back.<\/span><\/p>\n