Opponents of compulsory “work-for-your-benefits” schemes will besiege workfare provider A4e’s Edinburgh office this coming Wednesday 16th June.

The demo, scheduled for 11am at 34 Earl Grey Street, near Tollcross, is part of a UK day of action called by the NO TO WELFARE ABOLITION network.  Local organisers, Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty, condemn A4e’s multi-millionaire owner, Emma Harrison, for “raking it in”, while “ the sick, the disabled, the unemployed, single parents and other people who need support face cuts in services and the prospect of being made to work for their benefits.”

ECAP continue: "We want to let Emma Harrison and her pals in government know that welfare is a right and should not have to be earned. People not in waged work contribute a lot to their communities. Single parents are already working and deserve a decent wage.

“Welfare to work" effects us all, waged or unwaged.  Low income, temporary and insecure jobs will be replaced by "work for your benefits". Privatisation of the Department for Work and Pensions role, e.g. bringing in profit hungry firms such as A4e, is an attack on DWP/ Jobcentre Plus workers and on our rights to access welfare.

Here in Edinburgh, for example A4e have refused to allow people to be accompanied to interviews, a right everyone has when visiting DWP and Jobcentres.  We are organising to force A4e to recognise this right, giving active solidarity to claimants in conflict with A4e and similar companies profiting from slave labour.

Join us on Wednesday June 16th at 11am outside the Edinburgh office of A4e at 34 Earl Grey St. (Lothian Road) to demand justice for the unwaged and an end to the forced labour of "welfare to work"."

Unemployed people claiming Job Seekers Allowance are, after a specified period signing on, forced to attend private companies such as A4e under threat of having their benefits stopped.  A4e, in their turn, try to force these claimants  to work for their benefits on temporary work placements at both voluntary sector organisations and at private companies.

Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty, c/o Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA ecap@lists.riseup.net    www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk   Drop in advice and solidarity sessions on benefits, debt and housing hassles run in conjunction with Edinburgh Claimants every Tuesday 12- 3pm at the Autonomous Centre.