Campaigners set up their party outside A4e with cake, rhubarb crumble, party hats, party blowers and horns, music, and Boycott Workfare leaflets which detailed claimants’ rights regarding workfare schemes. Campaigners sang ‘for they are jolly good fraudsters’ and gave speeches to Emma and A4e reflecting on the ‘something for nothing’ culture that is pervasive in the ‘welfare to work’ industry which takes millions of pounds of tax payers money for bullying unemployed people and forcing them onto workfare.

We spoke with many interested passers-by who joined us for cake about A4e, workfare, and the welfare to work industry. One man told us that he was a decorator by trade but had been forced by A4e to attend a painting and decorating class under the threat of losing his benefits. What was particularly important was talking with fellow unemployed people about Boycott Workfare and how we can organise together to defend our welfare rights. If people know their rights – we can hamper the projects of these companies.

As Liz Wyatt, a member of Boycott Workfare, described:
‘We’re here not just because of the investigations into fraud which has seen A4e lose one of its contracts – anyone who has been to A4e or any of the other ‘welfare to work’ providers is aware that the goings on in these places is fairly dodgy, whether it be farcical ‘how to write a CV’ classes to forcing people onto workfare – what’s important is to raise awareness about what exactly these companies are doing – they are exploiting unemployed people through forcing them onto workfare and the tax payer is being completely ripped off. The welfare to work industry completely undermines welfare rights so we are here to reclaim those rights.’

With one contract down, the struggle continues against these companies and for living wages and welfare rights for all. Why not pay your local ‘welfare to work’ provider a visit and hand out leaflets about claimants rights? Have another leaving party until they get the hint.

Leaving party at A4e Brixton

Unemployed people and welfare rights campaigners will hold a leaving party for ‘welfare to work’ provider A4e and its former chairperson Emma Harrison on Thursday 17th May [1]. The leaving party follows a DWP statement on Wednesday [2] which announced that an A4e contract for delivering workfare in the South East has been cancelled due to inadequate documentation, erroneous claims and non-compliance with guidance. Yet, the cancellation of this one contract may well be the tip of the iceberg for fraud at A4e – the National Audit Office released a report today which was highly critical of the DWP’s fraud investigation noting that it failed to collect key documents [3].

The DWP statement concludes just one of several ongoing investigations into the company whose success has depended on government contracts worth £200 million a year. In February, Emma Harrison resigned as David Cameron’s “Families Champion” and as chairperson of A4e, walking away with an £8.6 million dividend [4]. The National Audit Office report suggested at least £773,000 has been lost to fraud in contracted employment programmes since 2006. Earlier this week an eighth A4e employee was arrested in an ongoing police investigation into conspiracy to commit fraud [5]. Next week, the House of Commons Public Account Committee will discuss ‘fraud within welfare to work providers’ [6].

Boycott Workfare’s leaving party, complete with balloons, bunting, music, and rhubarb crumble, will celebrate the demise of a company which has bullied unemployed people and forced them onto workfare whilst diverting taxpayers’ money directly to Emma Harrison. Campaigners will also use the party to talk with claimants at A4e about their welfare rights. This is part of a wider campaign against workfare that has seen protestors up and down the country target high street stores that use workfare. Numerous stores have since pulled out and the government have been forced into retreat over their workfare schemes. [7]

Liz Wyatt, a member of Boycott Workfare, has said:

“Until recently A4e was the flagship for government plans to turn welfare into a business. Now that a range of inquiries are shedding light on the shady world of workfare, it is increasingly clear that the the entire “welfare to work industry” is not fit for purpose.

The leaving party at A4e bids farewell to its Mandatory Work Activity contract and Emma Harrison. We will continue to celebrate as the reality of the “welfare to work industry” is exposed and the companies profiting from workfare flounder. Unemployed people are being completely let down by these companies and the taxpayer is being ripped off.”

Notes to editor

Boycott Workfare Media Liaison 07840 381195

[1] Boycott Workfare is a UK-wide campaign to end forced unpaid work for people who receive welfare. Workfare profits the rich by providing free labour, whilst threatening the poor by taking away welfare rights if people refuse to work without a living wage. We are a grassroots campaign, formed in 2010 by people with experience of workfare and those concerned about its impact. We expose and take action against companies and organisations profiting from workfare; encourage organisations to pledge to boycott it; and actively inform people of their rights. We are not affiliated to any political party and are open to all who share our aims. More info: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/

[2] A statement from Chris Grayling informed the public “…we have terminated the Mandatory Work Activity contract with A4e for the South East.” http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/may-2012/dwp049-12.shtml

[3] National Audit Office report can be found here http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/1213/fraud_in_employment_programmes.aspx

[4] Emma Harrison resigns http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/24/emma-harrison-quits-chairman-a4e

[5] BBC News article detailing the arrest of an 8th A4e employee http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-18066490

[6] The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee ‘Fraud within welfare to work providers’ takes place on 22nd May http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/

[7] A recent FoI response revealed that some sanctions on three of the five workfare schemes have been temporarily suspended
http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=912

12pm Thursday, May 17, 2012  on Brixton High Street
‘Farewell Emma, Farewell A4e’ party – Brixton 

Emma Harrison recently left her positions as chairperson of A4e – a ‘welfare to work company’ that looks to make money out of unemployed people through bullying and strange cultish practices amongst other things – and Cameron’s ‘families’ czar’ after allegations of systematic fraud at the company. Depending on the results of the investigations – will Emma be on her way to prison? Will this be the end of A4e’s Department of Work and Pensions contracts worth £200 million of tax payers’ money? We feel a party is in order to see Emma and A4e on their way.

Boycott Workfare will be holding a farewell party outside Brixton A4e with balloons, music, cake, fizzy pop, and party hats. The party will allow us to raise awareness about the fraudulent practices and bullying that these ‘welfare to work’ providers engage in and to discuss with claimants their rights. This latter act is particularly important and effective. Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty recently won a victory over A4e after claimants spoke out and organised against A4e. They are now allowed to be accompanied into A4e with their own representative.

Join us outside Brixton A4e on Thursday 17^th May at 12pm where we will party and leaflet for welfare rights. Brixton A4e is close to where the railway bridge crosses the high street.

After the party we will take a stroll along the high street in an information gathering exercise to find out who is in and who is out of the workfare schemes. We suspect that there may be many high street stores taking workfare who have managed so far to keep it secret.

Of course, A4e is just one of a number of other companies, including Serco, G4S, and Ingeus that are looking to make profit out of unemployed people. Whilst A4e are the only one’s currently being investigated for fraud, fraud is endemic in the entire welfare to work industry. The journalist Alex Nunns was able to predict the A4e scandal back in 2008. If you don’t have a local A4e, why not pay one of these other ‘providers’ a visit?

Workfare: doesn't work and not fair. Photo: Howard Jones

Across the UK people are finding creative and effective ways to bring down workfare. Here’s a flavour of some of the things that have happened recently:

* On 31st March, shops using workfare were targeted on high streets in over 20 locations across the UK

* In Birmingham, guided “Workfare walk of shame” actions have put pressure on local store managers and engaged the public. Read their guide to organising a walk on your high street here.

* In Liverpool, there’s been two actions in the last fortnight.

* After years of struggle, Edinburgh Claimants have won the right to be accompanied to meetings with A4E.

* Brighton Benefits Campaign have picketed their local A4E.

* In London, Chris Grayling had to find an alternative entrance (we suspect through the rubbish area) to an event entitled “Putting employers at the heart of the Work Programme”.

* On Mayday, high street stores which profit from workfare were again the target of protests.

Coming up…

26 May: National conference – How do we break workfare?

A conference is being hosted by Brighton Benefits Campaign on the 26th May where campaigners and activists will meet to discuss How Do We Break Workfare?  Full details here.

This Tuesday: Boycott Workfare meeting in London

7pm, Tuesday 8th May, Italian Trade Union Centre, 124 Canonbury Road, London N1 2UT (just a few minutes walk from Highbury & Islington station). If you can’t make it, but would like to feed in ideas or thoughts beforehand, please email us: info[at]boycottworkfare.org

10 May strike

Job centre staff union PCS and others from Unite and NIPSA will be on strike over pensions on 10th May. A good chance to talk to people on picket lines about the threat that workfare poses to all. Download our trade union leaflet here.

Other dates? Let us know and we’ll help spread the word on our blog / facebook / twitter.

Or take a look at more ideas for helping to stop workfare.

Campaigns, trade unions, voluntary groups and all those who oppose workfare are invited to a national conference on Saturday 26 May at the Brighton Railway Club, called by Brighton Benefits Campaign.

Saturday 26 May, 11am to 5pm, Brighton Railway Club, 4 Belmont, Brighton BN1 3TF.

More info and register to attend on the Brighton Benefits Campaign website.

“No to workfare and the work programme. For all placements of unemployed people on work experience schemes to be genuinely ‘voluntary’, without threat of loss of benefits, and to at least pay the minimum wage.”

This follows a commitment from public services union, PCS, to offer its support to anti-workfare campaigning in February, when PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka said:

“The campaigns against workfare are exposing the true nature of these schemes that are providing a pool of free labour for big businesses that could afford to pay proper wages.

“Instead of exploiting our young people and seeking to blame them for mass unemployment, the government should be helping to create long-term paid jobs and training to get people off benefits and into meaningful work.”

The Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union has also signed the pledge to boycott workfare at a national level, joining many Trades Councils and union branches to have already done so. The pledge reads: “We the undersigned commit to refusing to participate in compulsory work-for-benefits placements. We want volunteering to remain just that!”

If you are a union member, please bring motions to your union branch and take it to regional and national level. Workfare is being rolled out in five different schemes, often implemented at a local level. It is up to all of us to challenge it in our workplaces and communities, and we can stop it.

Download a leaflet for trade unionists here.

Download a draft trade union motion here.

The released document includes a set of temporary instructions to staff to ensure that sanctions are not used:

This removal of sanctions on three workfare schemes represents a significant victory for campaigners against workfare. The government is clearly back tracking after the public outcry over workfare. However, we are still concerned about how these schemes are implemented in practice; that the reality for many may still be forced unpaid labour for benefits.

• This is only a temporary removal of sanctions on three of five workfare schemes – the government are in the process of firming up their revised policy and there is the possibility that they will re-impose these sanctions.
• Claimants participating in these three work experience schemes can still be sanctioned for ‘gross misconduct’. The Freedom of Information request states that the Department of Work and Pensions is yet to define what gross misconduct involves meaning that there remains the possibility that this could be used against claimants who withdraw from these schemes.
• The Guardian has revealed that some claimants who have turned down the ‘voluntary’ Work Experience scheme have then been sent on Mandatory Work Activity – another workfare scheme. The Mandatory Work Activity is used as an indirect sanction on the supposedly ‘voluntary’ and ‘sanction free’ schemes.
• Often a claimant may find themselves bullied onto these schemes and not informed of their rights even if they are defined as ‘voluntary’.
• Work Programme providers and Job Centre plus can still mandate claimants under threat of sanctions to attend CV writing, motivational courses, monitored job searching sessions, crystal healing sessions, etc, etc…
• There are still two workfare schemes that claimants can be forced onto – Mandatory Work Activity and the Community Action Programme. Another Freedom of Information request highlights how the government have boosted funding for Mandatory Work Activity workfare through the £1 billion Youth Contract.

If you find yourself being sanctioned for refusing to take part in or withdrawing from a work placement then get in touch with us – info@boycottworkfare.org and consider making an appeal to your advisor using the the Freedom of Information request paragraph quoted above.

Despite this important victory, workfare is still a reality, in the form of MWA and CAP, and a threat – in that this is only a temporary suspension with the possibility that sanctions will be reimposed. For these reasons we will continue to campaign against workfare.

A couple of weeks ago, Kings Heath Against Workfare, a group campaigning to end workfare on their local high street in a Birmingham suburb took their first action – a Workfare Walk of Shame. This action was very successful, and is something they felt should be repeated in other places. In fact, there will be two more walks of shame in Birmingham in April – on Easter Monday in the city centre, and on Saturday 28th in Acocks Green.  Here is a guide to repeating the action on your high street, from Tom who led the walk in the video above.

The walk of shame works really well because you are visible up and down the high street for a good hour, and as shoppers move from shop to shop, they see you time and again outside different places – this helps people to realise how widespread workfare is, and understand that this isn’t a little problem or isolated example.

The first time they walked past you,  they might not take a leaflet, but the second or third time, they will.

As you move from shop to charity shop you can explain the workfare schemes and problems with workfare, which gives the people who came along a much greater knowledge of the subject.  Choose what you will talk about outside each shop and relate it directly to that place.

The step by step guide to running a workfare walk of shame (pun most definitely intended!):

Planning the route:

1. Plan out the route.  Kings Heath High Street is pretty much one street with a few side streets, which makes it fairly easy to do.  Birmingham City Centre is more complicated.  Plan this in advance, go around the city centre or high street and note down every shop or charity that you know or think is involved with workfare nationally.
2. If you know that a local shop uses workfare, note that down too.  When you are on the walk, be clear if you know they are using people at that particular location or not.  In Kings Heath, we found that some charity shops were refusing to take workfare people even though the charity is involved nationally.
3. Check your facts, make sure the shop has not pulled out and that it is listed here.  If you are not sure, leave it or be clear on the walk that it is unclear.  Target the big offenders for longer stops – ASDA, Holland and Barrett and Sue Ryder were the longest stops on our walk.  Most shops took 2-5 minutes, these were 10-15 minutes.
4. Make sure you stop outside places that have left the workfare schemes and highlight these.  For those who have suspended their involvement, make it clear that until they’ve said they are leaving, it is best assumed they haven’t – after all, no company is about to put out a press release saying that they’ve gone back into a forced labour scheme.
5. When you’ve got a route planned, build the narrative around the locations to explain the different workfare schemes and highlight the problems with them.

• For instance, in Kings Heath, I used Mind to talk about how some organisations take confusing positions on workfare and British Red Cross (who are one of the shops who do not use workfare in Kings Heath, but we know they do in Acocks Green because someone who came along is currently on a workfare placement there) to explain about the role that charities play in workfare schemes.
• Poundland – who have pulled out of the mandatory schemes but continue to take part in the theoretically voluntary Work Experience Scheme – was used to explain the different schemes and why the dropping of sanctions on the Work Experience Scheme is a cheap trick, since anyone refusing to volunteer will get sent on a mandatory scheme instead
• The Job Centre stop was used to talk about unemployment, the failure of workfare to solve this problem and why the 50% success rate touted is fake.
• Sue Ryder was planned to be talking about the introduction of ESA claimants to workfare – this was chosen because Sue Ryder are a cancer charity, and terminal cancer patients with more than 6 months to live will be getting sent on the Work Programme in future.  Following the intervention of the shop manager (see the video at the top of the post), it became an opportunity to talk about the difference between volunteering (which we support – as long as it is genuinely voluntary) and forced labour.. a difference that the manager and two volunteers seemed unable to comprehend.
• Other stops gave the opportunity to talk in more detail about other aspects of workfare – about the fraud and corruption at A4e, about the failure to secure worthwhile jobs for most participants, about the arbitrary nature of the scheme that sees everyone put onto them whether the work experience and help they should get could help them or not.

Planning & Publicising the Day

1. Have people prepared for different roles – someone will need to guide the walk.  They should have as much information as possible about workfare, and about the involvement of different shops and organisations.  You will also need people with leaflets & placards who can talk to the public on the day.  If you are guiding the walk, be observant as you will find you need to wait for conversations to finish before moving on.
2. If possible, get someone to film and take photos of the event.
3. Once you’ve got a route planned, make accessibility information available.  With people with disabilities being forced onto workfare programmes it is vital that we make sure everyone knows that events are accessible.  I would argue that you should avoid a route with steps, but this may not be possible.  Make sure you provide the following information

• Whether it is a step free route
• Length of route, in both distance and approximate time taken – make sure to mention that there will be regular stop offs along the way
• If you feel happy to, provide a map of the route beforehand using google maps, or in written directions.  If your high street is a single street, this probably isn’t needed, but if it’s a city centre it will be good for people who come late.
• Provide information about the locations of accessible toilets and baby changing facilites along the route
• Give distances, and if needed a map showing step free route, from train stations and bus stops to the meeting point.
• Specify whether the event is indoors or outdoors
• If you are able to provide interpretation services into BSL or another language, or support like a creche facility then tell people you can do this

Even if something seems obvious to you, it may not be to someone else – especially if they are travelling from outside your town or city.  Providing this information allows people to judge whether an event is suitable for them, and helps to make them feel welcomed.  It could be the difference between someone with mobility issues attending or not attending.

On the day

1. Make sure you are prepared.  Notes on workfare, megaphone, banner/placards/leaflets.
2. Let other people speak – and tell them at the start that if they want to talk, they should just let you know.  People who attend may well have workfare stories they want to tell.  They may even have been on a placement at one of the stores you are stopping at.
3. Make sure people know they can ask you questions.
4. Have someone go into the store, especially charity shops, and ask the manager if they want to come and make a statement or talk to the demonstrators.  You will probably get told no at most places… but you might find some interesting reactions.
5. Remember that what you are doing is absolutely legal, you do not need permission from the police (unless you are holding it near Parliament) or the council (unless you want road closures).  If you find that a shop manager thinks they can get the police to move you on, don’t worry – unless you are blocking the pavement  the police powers are very limited.  They can use section 12 powers, but only if they judge there is the threat of serious public disorder, serious criminal damage or serious disruption to the life of a community.

I hope you find this guide useful.  We were so happy with the results of the action that we are planning to repeat it around Birmingham in the city centre and major suburbs.  As a form of demonstration it works really well and we’d encourage other people to think about holding a walk of shame on their high street.  Do comment with any questions or suggestions you have.

In other developments, the government has given the nod for fraud to continue in the workfare industry, by cutting the number of investigators whose job it is to investigate fraud which has been committed by workfare providers, such as A4E. On top of this, workfare providers were given another bonus today. They are set to be rewarded for their failure, with yet another taxpayer handout to the tune of billions of pounds, to ‘deliver the benefits system’.

Workfare banner outside conference venue. Photo: Howard Jones

Attendees of the workfare industry conference  “Tapping into Talent: Putting employers at the heart of the Work Programme” had to weave through a protest to reach the conference today. Many took flyers from one suited campaigner, which informed them the conference had been rebranded “Tapping into Taxpayers: Putting failure at the heart of workfare”.

Sadly guest speaker Chris Grayling found a way in to the building which avoided the protest, but we like to think we did our bit to make his day go less smoothly.

• If you’d like to point out his lies to the Work and Pensions Committee, you can find contact details here.
• There’s loads of actions against workfare taking place this Saturday. Find one near you.

The real crime is workfare! Photo: Howard Jones