Union day of action slams benefit sanctions

Sheffield

Benefit sanctions punish people for being unemployed. That's why Unite Community - a trade union section for unemployed people - organised a national day of action against benefit sanctions on 30 March. Around 80 different protests were held around the country.

In Sheffield, we organised a protest at Manor Top, near the Eastern Avenue Jobcentre that is threatened with closure due to the Tory government's cuts to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

If this local job centre is closed, claimants face a six-mile walk or £4 bus fare to sign on in the city centre, leading to even more people getting sanctioned.

The campaign continues with another protest outside the threatened job centre on 6 April, the last day of the official 'consultation' period.

Alistair Tice, Sheffield North Socialist Party

Cardiff

In Cardiff the protest had some lively moments, where Socialist Party members and other activists engaged with members of the public and job centre users, especially those most affected by cuts and sanctions. Many passers-by showed solidarity.

It was good to see some Cardiff Welsh Labour assembly members and councillors turning up. Unfortunately they neglected to engage with the public. It appeared that some of them only showed up for a photo op while voting for the cuts in the council and assembly.

That is why the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition is standing in the council elections on 4 May!

João Félix, Cardiff West Socialist Party

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.