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Workfare Walk of Shame – Liverpool Sat 8th Sept

Ball and chain litter picker

There’s action in Birmingham on Friday, and more planned in the coming weeks, including this action in Liverpool. Let us know what you plan and we’ll help spread the word!

The fightback against Workfare continues on Saturday September 8th with a Liverpool Workfare Tour of Shame through the city centre, targeting corrupt retailers who continue to exploit claimants as a source of unpaid labour.

Workfare involves forcing claimants into unpaid work or face loss of benefits. Tens of millions of hours of unpaid work have taken place at profit-making businesses, such as Tesco, Asda, Marks & Spencer, Argos, Peacocks and Currys/PC World. Recently, charities, such as Scope, Salvation Army, Cancer Research UK and the RSPCA have been exposed as using claimants forced to work in their shops or face loss of benefits.

“There is little evidence that workfare increases the likelihood of finding work. It can even reduce employment chances by limiting the time available for job search and by failing to provide the skills and experience valued by employers.” This came from a Research Review by the Department for Work and Pensions, who ignore their own research and continue to roll-out Workfare on a national scale.

Workfare is part of a broader attack on the welfare & work of both the unemployed and employed. Not only does workfare supply a free source of labour to profit-making companies & charities, it undermines the pay and conditions of those already in paid employment.

100’s of High Street retailers are still involved in workfare schemes, but there is a growing list of retailers who have withdrawn from the schemes due to direct actions targeting their stores.

Join the Liverpool Workfare Tour of Shame on Saturday 8th September and combat workfare. Bring banners & noise and let’s send a message to the Workfare profiteers: IF YOU EXPLOIT US, WE WILL SHUT YOU DOWN!

Targets & meeting place will be announced nearer the time.

Combat Workfare Tour of Shame Facebook event