About Ipswich Unemployed Action
Ipswich Unemployed Action is a group of unemployed people fighting for the rights of the unemployed nationally although we specifically focus on the Ipswich area.
We were formed in May 2009 after a string of Human Rights violation towards jobseekers specifically from New Deal courses provided by the local New Deal Prime Contractor YMCA Training in addition to Jobcentre Plus.
The more research undertaken on the issues it appears to be a national issue so we have also been focusing on raising awareness nationally on the failed New Deal system and also on the proposed Flexible New Deal scheme commencing October.
- We want to raise benefits to a living level:
Benefits used to be 21% of average minimum earnings - since being renamed Jobseekers Allowance it has halfed to 10.5% although new taxes etc. have pushed prices up more than they would have done by inflation.
- We want compulsory "voluntary work" to be paid at minimum wage:
We can't say fairer then that. If we are to work to the same standard as a paid employee (or do all their work for them) then we should get the same amount as specified under the National Minimum Wage legislation.
- An independent appeal and monitoring system:
At current a New Deal Prime Contractor may dismiss a participant at any time for any reason. Jobcentre Plus has no discretion to reject a request and they don't review the paperwork. This means exited participants are typically dismissed for trivial or false incriminating reasons and have their benefits stopped pending a 26 week (6 months) sanction.
During the Flexible New Deal scheme an independent appeal and monitoring system should be incorporated where this impartial body gets to judge whether the Training Provider or participant is to blame and whether the participant therefore deserves to lose their benefit entitlement and get sanctioned - or perhaps a fine for Training Providers who abuse the system
- Real Training and Work Experience opportunities:
It may be a shock of the number of unemployed people and more so the number of long term unemployed people. It is not until you go on a New Deal course until you discover why.
Dencora House in Ipswich for example, participants do 30 hours a week job search in an under resourced environment on an industrial estate on the outskirts of the town - when they should be gaining experience in a work environment 4 days a week and be giving training and qualification opportunities.
YMCA Training (who do offer training opportunities to businesses) who run the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire New Deal contract doesn't even offer training to participants nor do they even allocate work placements, therefore, it is pointless for a so-called Training organisation to deliver such a course other than they receive around £6 million from DWP every year for overcrowding people into rooms.
- Treatment as Human Beings:
Money brings great power so an unemployed person living on the border of poverty can't expect to be treated like royalty, however this said, living in one of the world's richest countries where both the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights is presumed applicable you would think treatment of the unemployed would be better.
For example, not being confined to a tin shed, on an industrial estate with high air pollution for 30 hours a week stuck in an overcrowded room with constant threat of dismissal sharing a few computers, toilets and telephones, no clean air and not allowed to get a cup of water or go toilet outside of breaks constantly under harassment from staff who are typically understaffed so over stressed which makes it worse, typically having to pinch a chair to get a seat in the room however not having a table so job search become difficult - blocking the escape route in the process but refusing to would get you dismissed. I could go on...
- Close the detention centre:
Dencora House needs to be stopped in addition to all the other counterparts around the country. Give the unemployed what they were promised or don't send them on the courses - most people start induction week very keen then towards the end if they don't have depression, they are demotivated and take a while to recover from the course.
The Latest on the Ipswich Unemployed Action Network
Forced Labour for Jobseekers Pilot. Andrew Coates
Forced labour for Jobseekers (Via Manchester Mule here)Despite high levels of unemployment due to the recession jobseekers in Greater Manchester will be forced to work up to 40 hours a week as part of the Work for Your Benefits (WfYB) pilot scheme. The region is set to be the trialling ground for a government initiative that will see unemployed people put into mandatory work placements for up to six months just to hold on to their Jobseeker's Allowance.
Below minimum wage
From October Jobseekers who have failed to find a job at the end of the Flexible New Deal programme will be required to undertake full time employment for between £50 and £65 a week, the equivalent of as little as £1.27 an hour. Concerns have already been raised that, with the numbers of unemployed rising, people who genuinely cannot find a job will be forced to work for next to nothing in an unsuitable role.
Alex Halligan from Salford Unemployed Workers' Union said, "It's disgusting that they've chosen to trial this in an area with such high unemployment. This scheme is a further attack on the right of people who can't find work to get the support they need.” Those who opposed the scheme say that it fails to take into account personal circumstances or the condition of the economy.
WfYB is being introduced as part of the government's wide-ranging reform of the welfare system. Other elements include lowering the age up to which parents can claim child support and measures to force more people off incapacity benefits.
Workers wages could fall by 12 per cent
Some suggest that the scheme will affect the working population as well as those claiming benefits. "This flood of unwaged labour into the market will have a big effect on low waged jobs. When a similar scheme was introduced in the US there was a 12 per cent decline in pay for low-income jobs,” Rebecca Galbraith from 'No to Welfare Abolition' told MULE.
Commenting on the fact that private companies rather than Jobcentres will be running the WfYB programme, she added, "Whoever runs this scheme it will be a disaster, but private companies can set arbitrary targets and are much less accountable.”
Businesses will be paid for each person they get into a work placement. This has raised fears companies might ignore difficult cases or put people into unsuitable positions just to receive the commission.
Labour MP John McDonnell placed a parliamentary question in December regarding the employment rights that participants in the scheme will be entitled to. He is concerned that, since they will not be technically employed, those taking part may be put in danger as they may not be covered by health and safety legislation.
Charities set to lose out
Charities and social institutions that rely on volunteers, many of whom are also Jobseekers, have expressed concerns that WfYB will take these people out of important roles and put them into positions that have no benefit to the community.
"The government does not care that many 'claimants' are not actually idle and do a lot of unpaid work like caring for others. Real voluntary activities will suffer if people are kicked into work schemes under this pilot,” said Mike from No to Welfare Abolition.
Alongside the WfYB scheme an alternative Jobcentre Plus regime will be trialled, designed to offer Jobseekers increased adviser contact and access to a personal support fund. This trial will receive just £3.5 million of funding whereas the WfYB programme will receive £15 million, raising questions over the government's priorities.
Uncertainty
Tenders for the running of the scheme have been submitted and will be allocated in April. It remains to be seen which employers will be taking advantage of the cheap labour, or the kinds of jobs people will be expected to do.
Patrick Smith
Defend the Welfare State and Public Services. 10th of April. Andrew Coates
Defend the Welfare State and Public Services.
London Demonstration, 10th of April.
Supported by major trade unions and pensioners’ organisations.
More Here
Ipswich Unemployed Action helps YMCA Training file their accounts Flexible New Deal
Ipswich Unemployed Action is happy to reveal that within a week we have managed to advise and support YMCA Training into delivering their accounts. YMCA Training were stuck in a rut: feeling down about Flexible New Deal and their inability to competently deliver Government Welfare-to-work schemes, so they forgot to fulfil their legal obligations of filing their business Accounts with the registry Companies House.
Enter Ipswich Unemployed Action who wasn’t judgemental or discriminative of YMCA Training’s past experiences or present circumstances of relying on religion to rejoice and praise them of their sins (including but not limited to slavery) who motivated the cursed Christian faith-oriented organisation YMCA Training to inspire their staff, develop their talents by joining in union to create a powerful team and transforming theirs thoughts into action!
Yes, YMCA Training with a bit of motivational training provided by Ipswich Unemployed Action… and recognition, made the transition into submitting their accounts. Finally!
It will cost £150 fine for late filing however without Ipswich Unemployed Actions help, it could have been as much as £1500 – saving £1350… Nevermind its only taxpayers’ money…
http://webmail.ymcatraining.org.uk/WorldClient.dll
Ipswich Backing Young Britain Ministerial Careers Fair Flexible New Deal
If you are unemployed, under 25 years old and have attended the Jobcentre recently you would have been invited to the “Backing Young Britain” ministerial careers fair at in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite (Ipswich Town Football Club) on Monday 15th March 2010 between 10.00AM – 11.00am.
They had even promoted it on the Jobcentre Plus website as a job.
Job Title
BYB 18-24 CAREERS FAIR (ISF/39894)
Location
IPSWICH
Hours
10.00AM – 11.00AM
Wage
NONE
Work Pattern
Days
Pension
No details held
Duration
PERMANENT ONLY
Description
Backing Young Britain Ministerial Careers Fair. Monday 15th March 2010. Held at Ipswich Town Football Club, Portman Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DA in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite 10.00AM – 11.00am (Please use the entrance in Constantine Road). Specialist careers advice for jobseekers aged 18-24 will be on offer. Attendees – IDEA Apprenticeships, JCP, Reed in Partnership, Apprenticeships service, Care First Careers, National Council of Entrepreneurship, Suffolk College, Business Link, Next Steps, Princes Trust, Suffolk County Council, Chamber of Commerce, Future Jobs Fund Employers, UCS, Leap, Backing Young Suffolk
How to apply
For further details about job reference ISF/39894, please telephone Jobseeker Direct on 0845 6060 234. Lines are open 8.00am – 6.00pm weekdays, 9.00am – 1.00pm Saturday. All calls are charged at local rate. Call charges may be different if you call from a mobile phone. Alternatively, visit your local Jobcentre Plus Office and use the customer access phones provided to call Jobseeker Direct. The textphone service for deaf and hearing-impaired people is 0845 6055 255.
Contradictive aims?I think so. On Jobseekers Allowance you are seeking a “job” not a “career“. You might seek a job that you wish to do in the future and progress from in the same industry (i.e. a typical career) or progressing up the ranks and of responsibility in different industries, however as default you need to pick 2 more job areas to claim (the 3 on your Jobseekers Agreement) and those on Flexible New Deal may have to increase that original 3 to 5 (even though without any legal ability to really enforce that).
This seems to be focusing on just one area for improvement however someone people have to look at 5 times more – a contradiction if I have ever saw one.
Purpose?This is just an promotional event for apprenticeships and college courses.
YMCA Training and the OVERDUE Accounts Flexible New Deal
Some more on our favourite New Deal Prime Contractor and Flexible New Deal Subcontractor: it looks as if YMCA Training will be fined for failing to deliver their accounts on time. It is almost a month overdue!
Lets hope they submit the Annual Return on time!
Text version of image:
Name & Registered Office:
YMCA TRAINING
55 HIGH STREET
BANBURY
OXFORDSHIRE
OX16 5JJ
Company No. 04379109
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 21/02/2002
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: PRI/LBG/NSC (Private, Limited by guarantee, no share capital, use of ‘Limited’ exemption)
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
8042 – Adult and other education
9131 – Religious organisations
Accounting Reference Date: 31/03
Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/03/2008 (FULL)
Next Accounts Due: 31/01/2010 OVERDUE
Last Return Made Up To: 21/02/2009
Next Return Due: 21/03/2010
James Purnell: What a Swell! Andrew Coates
James Purnell MP is not standing in the forthcoming General Election (here). Harpy here.
Former cabinet minister James Purnell has announced he will leave Parliament at the general election.
The MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, Greater Manchester, said it was a “difficult decision”, but he did not want to spend all his life in politics.
Mr Purnell quit as work and pensions secretary after last year’s local and European elections, calling for Gordon Brown to resign as prime minister.Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said he was “sad” about him going as an MP.
A former aide to Tony Blair, Mr Purnell has also served as culture secretary.
‘Huge privilege’
He has been an MP since 2001 and is currently leading a project on the future of the Left for the think-tank Demos.
He will be remembered by those on Benefits for introducing ‘Welfare Reform’.
That is lower benefits for the incapacitated, the Flexible New Deal, and workfare.
As the BBC report states, he had has a “huge privilege” (s).
Now he proposes to do some Lord Bountiful charity. With whatever well-paid ‘work’ he is used to.
What a swell governor!
Informal Meeting for Unemployed in Ipswich. Andrew Coates
There will be an informal meeting of the unemployed next week in Ipswich.
It will be on the 22nd of February at 7pm in the Labour Club, Silent St (just up from the DWP, near the Old Cattle Market).
It is being held as a Right to Work meeting. That is the national campaign which we have reported here before.
Ipswich Unemployed Action is concerned with highlighting the problems we ont he Dole face. We want a fairer, better system – and ways to deal with all the miserable problems the DWP and Flexible New Deal providers throw at us. Not to mention the prospect of Workfare – slog for a pittance with no rights.
In this we are probably in line with the Unemployed Workers’ Unions being set up all over the country.
Anyway, this is a chance to do something about changing our conditions.
Benefit Cheats? Rewarding Grasses? Andrew Coates
(Response to Government Plans to Pay those who inform on ‘dole fraud’)
By the government’s own admission, more than 1,100 people phone its benefit hotline or report online each day, and last year it claims that more than 56,000 people were caught, although there were only 6,000 prosecutions (Report, 8 February). Yet even on the DWP’s own figures the overwhelming majority of calls were malicious and without foundation.
Each time someone is informed upon, whether innocent or otherwise, they are summoned to an interview on pain of suspension of benefits. This causes immense stress for people who are the victims of anonymous informants.
To target people who are already vulnerable should be a clear warning that for the unemployed New Labour is no better than the Tory opposition. Most so-called benefit fraud arises from the fact that it is impossible, for any length of time, for a person to survive on £64.30 a week. The term “benefit thief” is itself derogatory and discriminatory. It implies that all benefit claimants are potential or actual thieves.
Tony Greenstein
Secretary, Brighton & Hove Unemployed Workers Centre
(Guardian 15.2.10)
Reed in Partnership and the Carers Scam Flexible New Deal
Ipswich Unemployed Action has been tipped off about Reed in Partnership’s intention of forcing Flexible New Deal participants into Carers Jobs – which is pretty much a duplication of the Jobcentre Plus activity that was underway in 2009 at the Ipswich Jobcentre Plus Office – and a few others I know of.
Reed in Partnership is ignoring the Flexible New Deal participants’ 5 chosen job areas and in some cases forcing on participants a career in caring.
This strikes me as extremely concerning – not primarily because jobs are being unnecessarily forced on to Flexible New Deal participants – but due to the fact that the disabled, the elderly and the young requires a person undertaking a carer role who are passionate about the job and not someone who couldn’t care only not to get a 6 month variable benefit sanction.
A carer who doesn’t care really goes against the point I think…
Flexible New Deal in Ipswich Flexible New Deal
Ipswich Unemployed Action has done some primary research on the two Flexible New Deal providers in Ipswich: TNG and A4e. (Reed in Partnership Scandal Grows).
TNG: YMCA TrainingTNG (the Training Network Group) is rumoured to split Flexible New Deal participants into 4 groups. 2 remain at TNG who lease space in Princes Street – Wolsey House (where YMCA Training used to be); and the other 2 groups get sent to YMCA Training at Dencora House. Initial comments on TNG/YMCA Training:
- TNG are accused by Ofsted (in a New Deal ofsted report) as being racist
- TNG are very unprofessional – they also sent Flexible New Deal participants to the wrong place!
- YMCA Training are infamous for their Dencora House Detention Centre (something we have blogged alot about)
- YMCA Training lies to DWP/Jobcentre Plus and Ipswich Borough Council! Dismissed New Deal participants for trivial reasons. Traded without planning consent.
A4e don’t have premises in Ipswich – they wholly subcontract out to Reed in Partnership who lease space inside Crown House (near Tower Ramparts). Initial comments on A4e/Reed in Partnership:
- A4e were the biggest New Deal Prime Contractor – in the spotlight for fraud and overcrowding
- A4e tried to shut down sites giving criticism such as sister site New Deal Scandal (including for reporting their finance director resigned/got demoted after fraud allegations) and also closed the original Watching A4e website
- Reed in Partnership were the first to deliver New Deal in 1998 – they were caught in a £3 million fraud
- Looking at past history – A4e and Reed in Partnership seem a good match
- Reed in Partnership are accused of harrassing past participants impersonating the DWP Fraud team (*)
- Emma Harrison (A4e not the model/actress) has refused to acknowledge or talk about a4e’s failings
- Reed in Partnership and Reed etc. are also part of the same group yet they are pretty much isolated from each other (no website links to each other etc. or mention about parent company).
- A4e promised a cafe like environment and a chill-out lounge – neither exist in Ipswich
- You can’t make a Tea or Coffee – participants are advised to ask staff for one
- Flexible New Deal participants have to pick FIVE (5) job areas – 2 more than a Jobseeker’s Agreement (3 job areas)
- Reed in Partnership staff have to have atleast 6 months experience in high pressured sales environment
- Reed in Partnership Ipswich is TOO SMALL – OVERCROWDING – Ofsted apparently have raised concerns – rumours have speculated that someone was sanctioned for being a few minutes late (bus came late) solely because the room was too full for the person to join
- Reed in Partnership uses profiling – AVOID GIVING TOO MUCH INFORMATION AWAY!
- Reed in Partnership forces participants to sign a disclaimer giving them the ability to apply for jobs on your behalf etc. and to contact future employers (probably pretending to be DWP)
- Ask for a 7 journey supersaver card – if you don’t ask you wont get – this is easier then finding the cash to get on the bus and waiting for it to be reimbursed later
- Reed in Partnership offers “decoy training courses” under various different names such as “JOURNEY” – these wont help you secure employment – waste of time – consists of asking questions about the person next to you, what famous people you would like to meet/have dinner with, and the usual shit (interview modules, CV modules).
- Reed in Partnership contradicts themselves and will stab you in the back. Advisers have noted about a) travel costs to work b) budgeting the minimum money you require etc. and provided modules in their courses regarding “making sure you are better off, in work” HOWEVER the next moment all participants are TOLD to apply for any job – NMW – few hours from home etc. Seems like they are trying to prepare people for sanctions. Its not fair to advise people not to spend half your wages on travel to and from work, yet the next moment sanction them for 6 months money for refusing a job which matches this entirely.
- Reed in Partnership have an ongoing legal dispute with Yell (Yellow Pages) – and Flexible New Deal participants are banned from accessing yell.com – rather an important resource for speculative applications. Whether this is an injunction preventing yell being accessed or not is unknown at this stage.
If you are a Flexible New Deal participant at one of the providers in Ipswich feel free to append comments on your experiences so far. If comments are significant enough will compile them into an update article.
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