Demonstrators shut down workfare contractor Learndirect, as the company cancelled its
session for jobseekers forced onto the government's compulsory work-for-your-benefits
programmes. Learndirect's office in Conference House, Morrison Street was besieged by
around 60 protesters denouncing the slave labour schemes. Learndirect are owned by giant
private equity firm LDC, in turn part of Lloyds Banking Group, and are providers for both
the Community Work Placements and Mandatory Work Activity schemes. ---- Blockading
workfare exploiter Learndirect ---- Employees from Zion Security were brought in
especially to guard the building and police attended. The large Regus business centre
housing Learndirect saw normal comings and goings virtually grind to a halt. When
demonstrators discovered a few visitors were sneaking in the back entrance, we set up a
picket there too, and two cars were blockaded.
Demo organisers Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty and supporters from the capital were
joined by contingents from Dundee Against Welfare Sanctions, Glasgow Anarchist Collective.
and Scottish Unemployed Workers' Network Speakers explained that the workfare schemes not
only exploit the jobseekers and disabled claimants forced to labour for nothing, they also
attacked the wages and conditions of all workers.
The speakers were upbeat: "We are winning the battle against workfare." Over 400
charities have declared they wish to "keep volunteering voluntary" and are boycotting all
workfare schemes - including the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Edinburgh
Volunteer Centre, Shelter and Christian Aid. A member of Voluntary Action Scotland picked
up campaign material to take back to a nearby conference of charities and NGO's. Cancer
Research UK, after being approached by ECAP, recently told Learndirect they no longer
wanted any of their workfare placements.
NEVER FACE THEM ALONE
The demo lasted over two hours and the Rhythms of Resistance samba band raised enthusiasm
between speeches. A member of ECAP urged claimants facing harassment and sanctions at the
Jobcentre or being subjected to disability benefits examinations to take along a friend or
adviser for support. "This is your right, never face them alone." Dundee Against Welfare
Sanctions revealed the harsh choice facing many claimants they meet - pay for heating or
pay for eating.
Speakers were clear that workfare was an intrinsic part of the government's wider
austerity programme. "While handing out tax cuts to the better-off, the government are
waging war on the poor," said ECAP spokeswoman Esther MacDonald. "Workfare, sanctions,
attacks on the disabled and benefits cuts are all part of the state campaign to drive down
the cost of labour so companies can make more profits. We call on everyone, in or out of
employment, to take a stand against policies which are robbing the poor to make the rich
even richer."
Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty distributed around 500 copies of a leaflet
SLAVEDIRECT, which, as this extract shows, condemned not only workfare but also wage slavery:
""Work makes you free" declared the Nazis, a view echoed by most politicians today. Let's
nail this lie. Employment - working for a boss - equals exploitation. If workplaces were
run by their workers, in a society geared to human need, then work could be an expression
of creativity. Instead today the bosses are using the crisis of the capitalist profit
system to intensify exploitation, inside and outside the workplace."
The Edinburgh action was part of a Britain-wide week of action against workfare, with
demonstrations and on-line actions - on the same day in London the Haringey Solidarity
Group and Boycott Workfare occupied workfare provider Urban Futures.
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