A phony revolution within the NHS

Lansley reforms are a 'phony revolution'

http://www.channel4.com/news/nhs-surgeon-lansley-reforms-are-a-phony-revolution

What is next?

This government is even selling our forests, what is next? The air that we breathe?

http://www.channel4.com/news/forest-campaigners-fear-government-sale

NHS shakeup could set patients against their GPs

The new NHS "overhaul" is just a smokescreen to hide its weakening and possibly eventual dismantle:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jan/19/nhs-shakeup-patients-gps-report

Press attention for our demo

Our pre christmas demonstartion against Jobseekers Allowance "Sanctions" made the Kilburn Times. Thanks to Glenn McMahon for an excellent and accurate write up:

Kilburn unemployed fightback
Glenn McMahon, Reporter
Sunday, 26 December, 2010
12:31 PM

English Karate champion kicked off JSA despite looking for work

A GROUP of unemployed workers braved freezing conditions to demonstrate outside a job centre they accuse of unfairly stopping their benefits.

Members of the Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group say the sanctions have left members unable to pay for food or bills and at risk of losing their home.

John Tymon, chair of KUWG, said claimants are being treated worse than criminals who are assured hot food and a roof over their head while in jail.

Mr Tymon said: “I have been shocked to here jobseekers saying they would be better off in jail, even in this weather. But in jail people get three hot meals a day, a warm room and bed, hot water to bathe, television and other activities.”

He also warned that people could be forced into crime just to eat, something magistrates look sympathetically upon, he said.

Hatem Aly, from Kilburn, a karate instructor who represented England in the world Karate championships, had his benefits stopped without reason by an advisor at Kilburn Jobcentreplus, in Cambridge Avenue, Kiburn, despite applying for dozens of jobs, taking courses and being a finalist in an entrepreneurs’ competition.

He said: “I was sanctioned for no reason. They never even contacted me, I found out when I saw I had no money in the bank.

“I am looking for jobs every day, go to interviews and do voluntary work so I was shocked and surprised when they sanctioned me.

“They are supposed to help people get work but they don’t. I’m looking for teaching jobs now. I’m just waiting for a CRB check to work at Brent Homeless Users Group.

“I just couldn’t believe the way they treated me; if they only knew.”

Mr Aly, who is a black belt fifth dan Karate expert, said he had to wait two weeks for a hardship loan.

Benefit advisors subsequently told him to apply for a crisis loan which he learned is not available to sanctioned claimants.

After appealing the decision, Mr Aly was told the reason for his sanction he had not been actively looking for work.

Mr Tymon said he suspects job centre advisors are being put under pressure to sanction claimants as the government looks to cut its welfare bill.

A Department and Pensions spokeswoman denied there were any targets however she refused to say what the government’s guidelines were on how people should survive if they are unexpectedly kicked off benefits.

2011 Will be horrible say TUC

This recent TUC press release more or less sums up the dire situation:

“2011 is going to be a horrible year.

Unemployment will increase as thousands of public servants get made redundant. Just as many – if not more – private sector jobs will go, both as a direct result of the cuts and through the knock-on effects of reduced economic activity.

Benefit cuts will kick in, and thousands of some of the poorest and most vulnerable people will see real cuts in their living standards.

It's hard to pick out the unkindest cut of all, but a top contender must be the ten per cent cut in housing benefit that kicks in after someone has been unemployed for more than a year.

With long term unemployment already rising sharply, the government cannot get away with labelling the long-term unemployed as scroungers when there are more than five jobless chasing every vacancy"

Great Poster from UKUncut

Thanks to Kings Lynn Trades Council for forwarding this great poster from UKUncut.

Pics from recent demos

Here's some recent pics from demos outside Neasden and Kilburn Jobcentre to protest unfair Employment and Support Allowance decisions, which deny sick people the money they are entitled to and "sanctions" of Jobseekers Allowance, where claimants have their money stopped or reduced for allegedly not doing enough to look for work.

These issues make up the vast majority of our personal cases and cause no end of heart ache to our members.

Although both issues might look like personal problems: the number of times they occur points to systematic problems in the administartion of these benefits.

This is why we at Kilburn Unemployed Workers believe in fighting them as a collective problem, with public demonstrations and publicity!