This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/mar/05/workfare-workexperience-protest-benefits-manchester

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Manchester protesters keep up pressure on 'workfare' Manchester protesters keep up pressure on 'workfare'
(about 3 hours later)
It's early afternoon and a small band of protesters are starting to congregate outside Tesco Metro on Market Street in Manchester as two community support officers in high-visibility jackets look on nervously.It's early afternoon and a small band of protesters are starting to congregate outside Tesco Metro on Market Street in Manchester as two community support officers in high-visibility jackets look on nervously.
The protesters, members of Manchester Against Benefit Cuts, are here to express their anger over the Coalition's controversial mandatory work schemes, dubbed "workfare" – a fusion of work and welfare – by opponents of the programmes.The protesters, members of Manchester Against Benefit Cuts, are here to express their anger over the Coalition's controversial mandatory work schemes, dubbed "workfare" – a fusion of work and welfare – by opponents of the programmes.
Banners are unfurled and placards hoisted outside Tesco, one of the largest companies to participate in the work schemes and one increasingly targeted by Right to Work campaigners, as the protesters begin a boisterous chant ofBanners are unfurled and placards hoisted outside Tesco, one of the largest companies to participate in the work schemes and one increasingly targeted by Right to Work campaigners, as the protesters begin a boisterous chant of
Workfare? No way!
We won't work if you don't pay.		Workfare? No way!
We won't work if you don't pay.
The welfare-to-work schemes have come under the spotlight in recent weeks for forcing jobseekers to work for no additional pay and threatening those that drop-out of the schemes with sanctions. Although the Department of Work and Pensions dropped sanctions for jobseekers who voluntarily chose to leave the government's work experience scheme, they remain in place for the DWP's other four mandatory schemes.The welfare-to-work schemes have come under the spotlight in recent weeks for forcing jobseekers to work for no additional pay and threatening those that drop-out of the schemes with sanctions. Although the Department of Work and Pensions dropped sanctions for jobseekers who voluntarily chose to leave the government's work experience scheme, they remain in place for the DWP's other four mandatory schemes.
Outside Tesco Metro I speak to Paris Thompson, 25, a kitchen porter and a member of Manchester Against Benefit Cuts. He says:Outside Tesco Metro I speak to Paris Thompson, 25, a kitchen porter and a member of Manchester Against Benefit Cuts. He says:
These sort of schemes are already quite widespread in America. One of the main effects is it drives down wages. How on earth can workers organise to get better wages when the company are bringing in other workers they are paying nothing? It has a massive effect on the workforce.These sort of schemes are already quite widespread in America. One of the main effects is it drives down wages. How on earth can workers organise to get better wages when the company are bringing in other workers they are paying nothing? It has a massive effect on the workforce.
Tesco today announced 20,000 new jobs over the next two years, net of its current workforce; and David Cameron dismissed the anti-workfare protesters as "Trotskyites" in Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions. But his view is one which Thompson challenges:Tesco today announced 20,000 new jobs over the next two years, net of its current workforce; and David Cameron dismissed the anti-workfare protesters as "Trotskyites" in Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions. But his view is one which Thompson challenges:
The fact that the government have backtracked so much and contradicted themselves so much shows that they are worried, that there is anger in the general community. If it was just a small band of left-wing activists then they wouldn't have budged on this.The fact that the government have backtracked so much and contradicted themselves so much shows that they are worried, that there is anger in the general community. If it was just a small band of left-wing activists then they wouldn't have budged on this.
While there is a definite Socialist Worker presence at the demonstration, Manchester Against Benefit Cuts is an umbrella organisation that also includes people like unemployed Steph Pike, 45, formerly of Manchester Advice, Manchester Council's in-house welfare advice service which was scrapped in the local authority cuts last April.While there is a definite Socialist Worker presence at the demonstration, Manchester Against Benefit Cuts is an umbrella organisation that also includes people like unemployed Steph Pike, 45, formerly of Manchester Advice, Manchester Council's in-house welfare advice service which was scrapped in the local authority cuts last April.
Steph sees the mandatory work schemes as part of government attempts to "demonise" welfare claimants and says the problem is not with the actual work
placements, but with the lack of wages. She says:		Steph sees the mandatory work schemes as part of government attempts to "demonise" welfare claimants and says the problem is not with the actual work
placements, but with the lack of wages. She says:
Work experience is a good thing, but the problem is with these mandatory schemes. Yes, give young people work experience, but pay them for that work experience. The government want people to get experience of the world of work, in everything bar being paid for that work, which is a major part. When you're talking about companies that are making millions of pounds of profit, I find it unfeasible that they can't afford to pay the people who are doing their work experience.Work experience is a good thing, but the problem is with these mandatory schemes. Yes, give young people work experience, but pay them for that work experience. The government want people to get experience of the world of work, in everything bar being paid for that work, which is a major part. When you're talking about companies that are making millions of pounds of profit, I find it unfeasible that they can't afford to pay the people who are doing their work experience.
Most people I speak to seem sympathetic to the protesters and their cause. Observing the protest outside McDonalds in St Anne's Square, Natasha Stott, 31, a freelance artist from Oldham, says:Most people I speak to seem sympathetic to the protesters and their cause. Observing the protest outside McDonalds in St Anne's Square, Natasha Stott, 31, a freelance artist from Oldham, says:
I am totally opposed to the idea of people being asked to work for free, it's immoral isn't it? It should be your choice. If you want to volunteer in a workplace, you should be able to decide where it is, and it's probably not going to be McDonalds.I am totally opposed to the idea of people being asked to work for free, it's immoral isn't it? It should be your choice. If you want to volunteer in a workplace, you should be able to decide where it is, and it's probably not going to be McDonalds.
However, some do find the anti-workfare message harder to stomach. Outside Topman on Market Street I speak to Stefan, who doesn't want to give his surname but is 53 and a financial adviser in the debt industry. He says:However, some do find the anti-workfare message harder to stomach. Outside Topman on Market Street I speak to Stefan, who doesn't want to give his surname but is 53 and a financial adviser in the debt industry. He says:
At the end of the day, any work is better than no work. I'm probably from a different generation, but I believe that if they have an opportunity to gain some experience, then they should take it.At the end of the day, any work is better than no work. I'm probably from a different generation, but I believe that if they have an opportunity to gain some experience, then they should take it.
At least it is experience, it's giving them something to get up for in the morning for, some kind of self-pride, rather than doing nothing sitting at home. You have to start somewhere? How do you get people back into work without experience?At least it is experience, it's giving them something to get up for in the morning for, some kind of self-pride, rather than doing nothing sitting at home. You have to start somewhere? How do you get people back into work without experience?
Tom Midlane is a freelance journalist based in the north-est. He has written for Leeds Guide and DeHavilland, the parliamentary monitoring service, and is a regular contributor to Manchester-based news site Mancunian Matters. Tom Midlane is a freelance journalist based in the north-west. He has written for Leeds Guide and DeHavilland, the parliamentary monitoring service, and is a regular contributor to Manchester-based news site Mancunian Matters. His blog is here and you can also contact him on Twitter @goldenlatrine