ACTIVELY GETTING WORSE

The merging of the Dept of Unemployment into the Dept for Education certainly sums up the attitude of this government toward the unemployed. With the forthcoming Job Seekers Allowance we can be under threat of suspension for not dressing or looking right - ring any bells? It is also quite apropriate that the merger will result in a massive loss of jobs.

For years the government line has been training, flexibility and work experience are the way to a bright new future. And the more trained and flxible a workforce the bosses have been able to get hold of, the less workers they need, the more free work "experience", the less paid work. The head of the new department now wants to shepherd 14 year-olds into the workplace, to push more waged workers out. Of course training schemes have helped some people - if you pick up enough newspeak you can probably get a job running a training scheme (but you might not get paid as the TECs, the quangos set up to handle and privatise training funds, are starting to go bankrupt). It certainly hasnÕt helped those on benefits, forced off benefits, pushed into crap jobs or "self-employment", who are obviously worse off. Nor has it helped most people in comparatively decent jobs who are now also doing the jobs of laid-off colleagues, with pay and conditions squeezed by the threat of competition from the unemployed, contractors etc. But thatÕs the whole point.

JOB SHIRKERS ALLIANCE

The Job Seekers Allowance (not to be confused with the New Seekers Allowance, for which you have to be in a crap band that hasnÕt worked for years), now due in next October but being tried out in some areas already, is another tightening of the screw, giviung benefits staff more power (and pressure) to decide weÕre not "actively seeking work" and cut off our money, to push us onto pointless schemes and generally fuck up our lives. Most of us have better things to do than apply for jobs weÕre not going to get, and many of us have better things to get on with than anything thatÕs on offer.So what are we going to do about it?

Up to now most of us have got by thru a conmibnation of standing up for ourselves and going along with their crap when necessary. But as things get tightened and more arbitrary weÕre going to have to fight harder and together. 

WeÕre going to have to show that weÕre not going to take this crap, to cause a fuss together whenever someone gets forced off benefits or threatened, to hassle those responsible (its been suggested that we design an "actively being human" test for politicians, dole office managers etc.), to collectively take the piss, sogning on in appaling 70s suits, dressing as clowns because there happens to be a card for clowns in the Job Centre (donÕt know how it got there). We also need to take action around the lowest paying business in the area, around workers whose jobs we might be forced to actively seek..........

On an individual level weÕre all going to have to work out what rights we have left and use them. Leaflets and posters are being prepared and will need to get out everywhere (maybe its best not to leaflet where you sign on, but if the leaflets say "by the way, if you know of any jobs going let me know" they canÕt say youÕre not trying). 4 contact points around London have been set up and coordination around the country is slowly coming together, but we need local bases so we can start fighting now, against the current hassles as well as the proposed increase.