Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/729/15007
From The Socialist newspaper, 8 August 2012
Them & Us
Cash for contracts?
Cat Reilly, the unemployed graduate who took the government to court over their slave labour 'workfare' schemes, has lost her case.
The decision came just a week after the latest scandal related to the work-for-your-dole schemes. The Employment and Skills Group is one of the private companies with workfare contracts - paid public money to 'get people back to work'. The company is more than 50% owned by a company set up by John Nash and Ryan Robson, who just happen to be considerable donors to the Conservative Party. A spokesperson assured us that the donations didn't help secure the contracts in any way. If you say so.
The Atos Games
A recent parliamentary question found that 31 people died in a three year period while appealing against decisions that they were fit to work. Also, 32 people die on average every week who Atos, the private company with a £100 million a year government contract to carry out working capability assessments, have determined can be helped back to work in the medium term. Disgracefully, Atos is sponsoring the Paralympics.
Campaign group Disabled People Against Cuts is organising the Atos Games from 27-31 August.
See www.dpac.uk.net
Deciphering jargon
The big business press was very excited by a recent study showing that many European countries have successfully reduced their 'labour costs'. According to the report, the costs of 'labour per unit' have fallen significantly in some of the countries worst hit by the crisis - 5.3% in Ireland, 4.4% in Spain and 3.6% in the UK. Of course 'reduced labour costs' really means slashing the jobs, wages and conditions of workers to increase profits.
Irony
A London housing association, One Housing, is threatening to cut its support workers' pay by up to £8,000 a year - 30% of their income. This would be devastating for already low-paid workers. Many will struggle to keep up with mortgage or rent payments - ironic considering One Housing claims it wants to increase its work with the homeless.
These workers have already been through a four-year pay freeze. Unsurprisingly, the executives of the association - and their salaries of up to £135,000 a year - were exempt from this.
By numbers
(all figures from New Scientist 28 July)
- 1% of the US population controls 40% of wealth
- 1,226 billionaires in the world
- 2/3 of the UK's 1% 'work' in finance
- 50% of the world's population own just 1% of wealth
- 1.29bn live in 'absolute poverty' (living on less than $1.25 a day)
- 3/4 OECD countries have seen a growing gap between rich and poor in the last 20 years
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In The Socialist 8 August 2012:
Socialist Party news and analysis
End the insane cycle of youth joblessness
March together on 20 October and then strike together to stop all cuts
Sean Rigg inquest: damning verdict for police
Gove sneaking unqualified teachers into academies
London Olympics
Views on the Olympics and the opening ceremony
Transport 'customer experience' staff still fighting for Olympics bonus
Socialist Party workplace news
Vote No in Unison's local government pension scheme ballot
Swansea DVLA staff protest at embarrassment of job cuts
Support Churchill cleaners, Tyne & Wear Metro
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Interview with Southampton rebel councillors
TUSC: Keeping up the pressure on the austerity parties
Socialist Students organise to fight fees and cuts
Workers win Wales Austerity Games despite bosses moving the goalposts!
Growing resistance to NHS cuts shown in Redditch
Portsmouth fans fight to save Fratton Park
Brighton pensioner jailed for non-payment of council tax
Welsh Labour: Red flag or white flag?
Obituary: Frank Mills, 1939 - 2012
International socialist news and analysis
Syria: Is there an alternative to the developing civil war?
Markets force savage austerity measures on Spanish workers
Trial resumes of Kazakhstan human rights activist
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