Defending the vulnerable vital says DWP group conference

Defending jobs, vital services and the vulnerable from government attacks was the common theme running through a debate on welfare during the afternoon session of the PCS Department for Work and Pensions group conference (on Monday).
Gerry McMahon from DWP Glasgow was impassioned in his criticism of the government’s welfare plans, including introducing universal credit, which amounts to a £18 billion cut in welfare.
He said: “I get 15 or 16 appointments a day with people for me to help find work, but since the bankers’ bailout of £1.3 trillion it has been virtually impossible and because we’re trying to place 2.5 million customers in 500,000 vacancies a large number of these are low paid, part-time or unsuitable.”
Andy Lawson of DWP North London branch said: “The government is pushing through its welfare to work programme that forces the unemployed into unpaid and menial work; that’s the reality of the big society.
“When it was introduced in Germany people lost their jobs, ended up on the dole and were made to come back and work for free. It was used to force down wages for people in work.
“We’re talking about cuts in jobs, cuts in wages and a complete tearing up of everything we have.”
Rosie Huzzard, from Sheffield, said the key to defeating the government’s welfare plans was for PCS reps to work with claimants’ groups and unemployed activists in their areas.
 General executive committee member Helen Flanagan said: “Universal credit is an attack on claimants, the poor and our members’ jobs.”

Child maintenance plans “an attack”

The government’s child maintenance plans were described as “nothing more than an attack” by DWP GEC member Martin Cavanagh who spoke to a motion on the subject.
He said: “Eight hundred and sixty-eight thousand children have benefited from the scheme. It has brought more and more children out of poverty.
“The scheme should be run to bring more children out of poverty and not run for profit and for shareholders.”
Linda Hancock, Fife said: “The coalition government is effectively attacking the most vulnerable in society. In this case it’s the children who have no voice for themselves. It’s taking away a free service which has had its most effective two years and replacing it with one accessible to the few.”

Support disabled people’s struggle

Proposals by the Tory-led coalition to change the disability living allowance are motivated by cost-cutting said group delegate Martin Jones during a debate on the subject.
He added: “Cutting costs is the motivation. It elevates the meaning of Scrooge to a new level. Two thousand 150 people have already gone from the department since 2004.”
Dean Rhodes, of the Fylde Central benefits branch, said: “We know the truth and recognise that plans to reform DLA is nothing more than an assault on disabled people across the country. Pressure and intimidation will be applied to disabled people. We must continue to challenge these proposals at every step. We must stand with disabled people and support their struggle.”

Poor left to indignity of charity

The most vulnerable in society could be forced to rely on the indignity of food vouchers or charity as the government makes radical changes to the social fund system.
The prospect of a future reliance on charity and the voluntary sector was raised by speakers to a motion on the subject.
Nick Bird, of Norfolk and Suffolk DWP branch, said: “We have been put into an impossible situation. Councils, who can’t even afford to provide a school crossing service, will be responsible for delivering the fund so vulnerable people will be reliant on food vouchers and the voluntary sector to supply home furnishings. How are they going to be able to provide a crisis loan system?”
Derek Thomson, of the DWP GEC, said: “The most vulnerable people in society are left in critical need of support.”
A new PCS booklet on welfare reform will be launched at the Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2GR, at 5.30pm on Thursday 19 May.

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