{"id":542,"date":"2012-09-11T21:47:43","date_gmt":"2012-09-11T21:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=542"},"modified":"2017-09-06T21:51:12","modified_gmt":"2017-09-06T21:51:12","slug":"bhf-charity-shop-in-leith-closed-by-anti-workfare-protest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=542","title":{"rendered":"BHF charity shop in Leith closed by anti workfare protest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anti workfare demonstrators in Edinburgh shut down the British Heart Foundation furniture store at the Kirkgate shopping centre for over two hours on Saturday 8 September. The Leith store closed its doors as demonstrators arrived before noon, and didn’t attempt to reopen till after 2 pm. Protesters blocked the shop door with a giant banner IF YOU EXPLOIT US WE WILL SHUT YOU DOWN.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Demo organisers Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty condemned BHF\u2019s participation in the government workfare schemes. \u00a0These programmes mean unemployed people are compelled to work for their benefits – or their benefit is cut. \u00a0\u201cThese schemes punish the unemployed, attack all workers’ wages and conditions and actually cause more unemployment, due to the replacement of paid workers by unpaid labour,\u201d say ECAP. Opposition to workfare has grown and many major companies and charities such as Oxfam, Marie Curie, Shelter, TK Maxx, BHS, HMV, Sainsburys, Waterstones, Boots, Holland & Barrett no longer participate in the schemes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protesters also stood with banners right across the entrance at another nearby BHF shop on Great Junction Street, defying police orders to move, and causing custom to be greatly reduced. \u00a0\u201cMany people turned away when BHF’s participation in slave labour schemes was explained,\u201d stressed ECAP. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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STEPPING UP ACTIONS<\/span><\/strong>
\nLetters were delivered to the BHF managers, workers and volunteers, explaining the action was not directed against them but against the BHF top managers and the government. \u00a0\u201cToday\u2019s demonstrators included an unemployed man forced by A4e to go to this BHF store on the Kirkgate under threat of having his benefits stopped,\u201d stated ECAP. \u201cWe have phoned BHF several times and written to their Head Office, but they are ignoring the rights of the unemployed. \u00a0Now we will be stepping up our actions until they withdraw from all workfare schemes. \u00a0And we are issuing a warning to the other charities and companies involved \u2013 these include Barnardos, the Salvation Army and the PDSA – if you don\u2019t withdraw from workfare we will shut your premises down too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany genuine volunteers at BHF are against the charity\u2019s involvement in compulsory schemes,\u201d explained ECAP. \u00a0\u201cWe met one ex-volunteer for BHF who stopped working there because the shop was full of disgruntled unemployed people who were angry at being there. \u00a0He said several long-term volunteers had left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many unemployed people are even being forced to give up their voluntary work to do mandatory placements with other charities. \u00a0Research by Third Sector shows several charities have lost long-term, skilled volunteers at short notice because they have been placed on the Work Programme or other government-run work training programmes.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s protest was part of a UK-wide Day of Action against workfare organised through the Boycott Workfare Network, and focused on charities involved in workfare.\u00a0 ECAP urge: \u201cThe fight against workfare is part of an international struggle against austerity. Governments and the ruling class everywhere are trying to make ordinary people pay for the crisis of the profit-dominated capitalist system.\u00a0 We need to resist.\u00a0 And it’s no use relying on politicians or leaders \u2013 we need to get organised ourselves and take direct action.\u00a0 It’s our world, let’s take it back.\u201d<\/p>\n

NOTES
\nEdinburgh Coalition Against Poverty ecap@lists.riseup.net<\/a>
\nBoycott Workfare<\/a><\/span><\/strong>
\nThird Sector\u00a0http:\/\/www.thirdsector.co.uk\/Governance\/article\/1114544\/analysis-chariti…<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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