{"id":453,"date":"2014-06-12T00:32:14","date_gmt":"2014-06-12T00:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=453"},"modified":"2017-08-16T00:37:28","modified_gmt":"2017-08-16T00:37:28","slug":"demonstrators-occupy-workfare-exploiter-learndirect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=453","title":{"rendered":"DEMONSTRATORS OCCUPY WORKFARE EXPLOITER LEARNDIRECT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anti workfare demonstrators occupied Learndirect offices in Edinburgh on 12th\u00a0June. \u00a0After occupying for an hour, <\/span><\/strong>protesters<\/span><\/strong> then moved to cover the office entrance with a huge banner declaring IF YOU EXPLOIT US, WE WILL SHUT YOU DOWN. \u00a0Police attended but the occupation continued despite their presence.\u00a0 There were no arrests.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Occupation of Learndirect’s Edinburgh offices<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Learndirect recently won the DWP contract to run the new Community Work Placements workfare scheme in Scotland, and are also the Edinburgh provider for Mandatory Work Activity, another workfare rip-off. \u00a0<\/span>“We aim to make Community Work Placements and all workfare schemes UNworkable”<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0state demo organisers Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Community Work Placements forces unemployed people to work for SIX MONTHS for nothing – under threat of benefits being stopped.\u00a0\u00a0But many think the scheme is in real difficulties, as many charities are now boycotting workfare, signing up to the\u00a0“Keep Volunteering Voluntary” pledge<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Edinburgh Council has declared it will not use workfare.\u00a0\u00a0We call on workers to pressurise their employers not to participate in workfare.\u00a0\u00a0And we give notice that any employers who do exploit claimants through workfare, whether they be charities, private companies or state bodies, can expect direct action –\u00a0<\/span>if you exploit us, we will shut you down.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Workfare exploiter Learndirect rent their offices in Conference House, 152 Morrison Street, The Exchange, Edinburgh, EH3 8EB. This big office block is owned by multinational Regus and the occupation of their office foyer clearly had a big impact on the Regus staff.\u00a0 All visitors to any of the many companies based there had to squeeze past demonstrators, police and a multitude of banners and placards to enter\u2026. People may wish to ring\u00a0Regus\u2019 Edinburgh offices<\/a>\u00a0on 0131 200 6000 to advise that they should give Learndirect the boot – or expect more anti workfare occupations of their offices.<\/span><\/p>\n

WORKFARE ATTACKS ALL WORKERS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hundreds of leaflets were given out to passers-by, denouncing Learndirect \u2013 dubbed SLAVEdirect – and stressing that all workfare schemes attack everyone’s wages and conditions.\u00a0 If an employer can get someone to work for nothing, why employ more paid workers?<\/span><\/p>\n

“Work makes free” declared the Nazis, a view echoed by most politicians today.\u00a0 Let’s nail this lie. Employment – working for a boss – equals exploitation.\u00a0 If workplaces were run by their workers, in a society geared to human need, then work could be an expression of creativity.\u00a0 Instead today the bosses are using the crisis of the capitalist profit system to intensify exploitation, inside and outside the workplace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Workfare, zero hours contracts, casualisation, redundancies, speed ups, privatisation, service cutbacks – all are part of the rich’s war on the poor.<\/span><\/p>\n

But we – along with millions world-wide – are fighting back.\u00a0 Join us!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Being sent on workfare? See below for info on how you can resist…<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Boycott Workfare<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>and check out our links page.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

And above all contact ECAP for support, and do tell us which employers are using workfare….<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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