DWP Ordered To Name The Workfare Exploiters

The Information Tribunal ordered the DWP to name the companies and charities involved in workfare at an appeal hearing this work.

A long running war of words has been waging between the DWP and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) ever since a Freedom of Information request was submitted by Frank Zola asking for the names of organisations ta…

International Community Centre

62b Mandfield Rd

Nottingham

 

Notts Trade Union Council organised a march and rally in Nottingham to mark international workers’ day on Saturday 4th May. Trade unionists, anti-cuts activists, socialists and anarchists marched from the Forest Rec to Market Square where speeches were given. The tradition of dissent within the local labour movement continued where it left off last year, with both the prominence of Nottingh…

The Nottingham homelessness charity, Framework, has admitted that it is involved in the Work Programme. This is one of the schemes known collectively as workfare, where unemployed people are forced to do unpaid work or face losing their benefits. Under pressure from anti-workfare activists, Framework announced that “we are one of the organisations who participate in delivering the work progra…

Yesterday's Mayday Rally at the Brian Clough statue organised by the Nottingham and Mansfield Trades Union Council recounted the gains of the Labour movement over the past year and spoke of current struggles against the Bedroom tax in particular. The rostrum almost shone with the hard work of the labour left in defeating the tory monster in the County.

However as soon as the march arrived it was …

Yesterday a new Nottingham campaign was begun to demand that Framework, a local homelessness and housing charity, stops using mandatory work placements from the Job Centre. Everyone can get involved.

Charity involvement in workfare, where benefits claimants are forced to work for free with the threat of cut-off benefits if they do not, is rife in Britain. The goodwill of true volunteers, a vital …

Going to see Framework about workfare

Meet on Forest Rec Ground (Goose Fair) from 10.30, for march to move off shortly after 11. Rally at speakers corner when the march arrives there.

Latest issue of Riseup! Radio available now! This show we talk to someone from Chiapas about what's going on in the Zapatista communities over there. We hear about the on going court case against a group of squatters in Germany. Doom brings us up to speed on the case of a Nottingham man who has been unjustly been put on remand for alleged "threatening behaviour" during a DWP interview. We …

Primark, 6-7 Long Row, Nottingham

It's great to see that a local campaign could be mounted so quickly to demand the freedom of Steve Topley, who had been detained by police since 11th April for allegedly making a threatening comment during an Employment Support Allowance interview.

Visit to Atos adviser leaves man with criminal record

In Atos meeting, Steve Topley made casual death threat in reference to a third party. The next thing he knew he'd been charged by police

Zoe WilliamsThe Guardian, Friday 26 April 2013 19.42 BST

The atmosphere in Nottingham crown court on Friday morning was predictably bleak,  crackling with rage, frustration and people slamming doors.

But the …

Steve Topley's family and supporters of the campaign to free him gathered outside Nottingham Crown Court from 9.30am today. Steve, who has not seen his family since he was snatched by the police on 11th April, was in court for a bail hearing. He is currently on remand for alleged "threatening behaviour" during a DWP interview.

Friday 26, April 2013. 9.30-11.00 am

Family and supporters will protest against Steven Topley’s imprisonment outside Nottingham Crown Court 60 Canal St, Nottingham, NG1 7EL.

Contact details: Dave Perkins Tel; 07971 373479. Gina Topley Tel; 07952 976316.

A campaign has begun to free a man detained by police since 11th April for allegedly making a threatening comm…

PCS Union Leadership Refuse To Even Discuss Fighting Benefit Sanctions

In a disappointing and sadly all too predictable move, the leadership of the PCS Union have blocked any meaningful discussion about fighting the ruthless benefit sanction regime which many of their members are now expected to administer and police.

Under draconian new rules claimants can have benefits stopped for up to thre…

A campaign has begun to free a man detained by police since 11th April for allegedly making a threatening comment during a DWP interview. According to the campaign website, police were called to Steve Topley’s ESA interview by DWP staff who then escorted him to the QMC where he was kept late into the night and denied contact with his family, despite medical staff finding no reason to detain him.…

Once bitten twice shy, riseup! radio has another show,

A meeting in the Meadows last night has hopefully sown the seeds of a local fightback against benefits cuts with the beginnings of a new local group ‘Meadows Against the Bedroom Tax.

Now the new parts of the Welfare Reform Act are being implemented, households are already getting demands from the City Council for the Spare Room Subsidy which is better known as the ‘Bedroom Tax’, using what…

Nottingham saw an expression of joy at the news of Margaret Thatcher’s death on Monday. People gathered after work in the Market Square to celebrate the passing of the architect of the crushing of the miners, the poll tax and Britain’s enslavement to neoliberal capitalism. Those present included veterans of the campaign that beat the poll tax and travellers who were repressed by Thatcher’s go…

Nottingham Market Square, 5pm. Bring yourself, banners, placards, music, hats.

Upstairs at the Peacock, 11 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, N G1 3FB

 

Friday 5 April 2013, Nottingham

As part of their rolling days of action, members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) walked out of the Station Street Job Centre, Nottingham at 1pm today.

 

Had written to local Nottingham MP to enquire after attitude to workfare.

Notts IWW has a new website. We will be covering events we are involved in and things we support, plus other relevant news and comment. You may have seen our banner out and about.

 

BBC Nottingham, London road, Nottingham

Many BBC journalist from the NUJ and technicians from BECTU walked out for a 12 hour strike today.  The action is part of their ongoing campaigns on pay, pensions, continuing job cuts, workload and bullying issues. Output was affected on local and national stations both radio and television, much being replaced by recorded content.

 

About a year ago, Nottingham's May Day events became the source of much controversy after Notts Trades Council decided to invite New Labour MP, Alan Meale. The decision to invite Meale, an MP whose role in Parliament seemed to have been to facilitate the war-mongering, authoritarian and anti-migrant policies of the Blair government, was strongly opposed before and during the event.



In the aftermat…

Here are photos of the anti-workfare demo in the snow, that took place in Nottingham City Centre yesterday (23rd March 2013) to highlight the continuing scandal of forced unpaid work for people who receive welfare. Four shops were visited that are involved with workfare (Burton, British Heart Foundation, Debenhams, Poundland). Leaflets were handed out and shops were entered to speak with workers a…

Nottingham Railway Station (Nottingham, Notts)

Carrington Street

Nottingham, Notts NG2 3AQ

12.30pm Wednesday 20th March 2013.  Market Square, Nottingham

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) held a national strike today on Budget Day across the country. To highlight their concerns over pay, pensions and the governments continued austerity measures.  

 

Saturday 16th March 2013

2 - 300 people gathered for a static demonstration at the Brian Clough Statue / Speakers Corner.