A4e Liverpool feel the impact of another picket and communications blockade

On Tuesday 26 June, Liverpool Solidarity Federation called a picket and a communications blockade against A4e in Liverpool. Both were well attended, with up to a dozen people joining in the afternoon picket whilst countless people from around the country jammed up phone and fax lines throughout the day.

From the morning, we were getting reports that the communications blockade was having its desired effect. People were hung up on as soon as they even mentioned the work programme, re-directed to central phone lines and met with exasperated staff on the other end of the line. By the afternoon, there were huge delays in answering calls and the fax machine was switched off - no doubt due to the huge volume of literature, complaints and sheer nonsense clogging it up.

Liverpool maintains the momentum against workfare

Another Saturday, another round of direct action against workfare providers in Liverpool. Members of Liverpool Solidarity Federation were joined by other local anarchists and activists to picket Holland & Barrett and Argos in the City Centre. The lively pickets saw 600 leaflets distributed and a number of shoppers turned away from both stores.

When we arrived at the main Holland & Barrett store in town, the security guard immediately got on the phone to the police. When they arrived, they took no action against us, but a complaint by the manager that our picket had abused staff (a claim which was entirely untrue) suggests that the continued pressure is starting to have an effect. Whilst the response from the public varied from largely ambivalent to positive and supportive, local security were clearly extremely hostile.

Combat workfare - Wavertree

start: 
Sat, 30/06/2012 - 13:00

Location

Asda
126 Smithdown Road
L15 3JR Liverpool
United Kingdom
53° 23' 44.3688" N, 2° 56' 25.8756" W
See map: Google Maps
Event organiser: 
Liverpool Solidarity Federation
iconimage: 

This will be our third action targetted at Asda in Wavertree. Following the last action, there were a number of reports of considerable numbers of people using other shops. We need to keep the pressure up, and remind customers and staff alike that we will not go away until workfare does.

Assemble on Smithdown Road at 1pm. If you are travelling from Town, you can catch the 86, 86 A or 86C at the bus stops on Great Charlotte Street, up the steps from St John's Market and Clayton Square. Map here.

local, network, collective: 
Liverpool
Access Layer: 
Public
URL: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/254691504641040

Communications blockade - A4e Liverpool

start: 
Tue, 26/06/2012 (All day)
Event organiser: 
Liverpool Solidarity Federation
iconimage: 

A4e is the best example of everything that is wrong with workfare, workfare providers, and the culture of greed that drives the workfare industry. Investigations for fraud were launched in February 2012, and not for the first time.

On Tuesday 26 June, we are asking everyone to make their voice heard. Whether you are in Liverpool or not, call A4e and complain about their involvement in the work programme.

local, network, collective: 
Liverpool
Access Layer: 
Public
URL: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/381484845247282/?context=create

Maintaining the pressure on Holland & Barrett in Brighton

Brighton Solidarity Federation and the Brighton Benefits Campaign picketed the London Road branch of Holland & Barrett this morning (23rd June). We had a warm reception from the public, giving out several hundred leaflets during the three hours we were there and turning at least half of their trade away. 

So many potential customers decided to shop elsewhere that a member of staff came out and started a loud argument, accusing us of having physically blocked people from coming in to the shop. It was unfortunate that his rant was based on the fact that customers had been ‘in the doorway’ before turning away – proving that they found Holland & Barrett’s use of workfare far more off-putting than our picket.

Public Meeting (3rd July) - Opposing the EDL in Bristol (14th July)

Brighton has seen off the fascist EDL twice already this year, with successful mobilisations against the March for England and subsequent 'revenge' visit. Now they've decided to target another southern city - Bristol - on the 14th of July. 

Brighton Anti-Fascists are hosting a public meeting on the 3rd of July to discuss mobilising against this threat. It is at 7.30 in the Cowley Club on London Road.

Anti-workfare activity at Bootle Jobcentre Plus

Today, activists including Liverpool Solidarity Federation members held an informational picket at Jobcentre Plus in Bootle. There, we handed out advice leaflets and Solfed workfare pamphlets to claimants, alongside more general leaflets to the public.

In all, we stayed there for about an hour and a half. The response we had from claimants and members of the public alike was overwhelmingly positive. Most took our leaflets gratefully, whilst more than a few people stopped to chat about workfare and our campaign against it. Several trade unionists from the local council also promised to take the information back to their branches as it affected their staff as well.

Picket Holland & Barrett against workfare (Brighton)

start: 
Sat, 07/07/2012 - 11:00 to 14:00

Holland and Barrett's tagline is 'we're good for you' - but nothing about workfare is good for us. Join the Brighton local of the Solidarity Federation as we picket Holland and Barrett as part of the National Week of Action Against Workfare.

We will meet at 11 at the Clock Tower and picket until 2. Depending on numbers we may also send delegations to picket other branches in Brighton and Hove.

This picket is set to coincide with and complement the Brighton Benefits Campaign Walk of Shame 

Please share widely!

local, network, collective: 
Brighton
Access Layer: 
Public
URL: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/147156832086122/