claimants and unpaid
News and articles about work, policy and workers' struggles among the unemployed, unpaid workers and house workers, pensioners and welfare claimants.
'Dole autonomy and work re-imposition': an epilogue
It is now more than a year since the original version of this text was written. The text drew some rather gloomy conclusions about current resistance to British welfare restructuring. Little has happened since then to contradict these conclusions.
Introduction to debate on the new 'under classes' - Wildcat Germany
Having a historical look at labour migration and welfare policies in Germany, Wildcat criticises the current attempt of those in power in Germany to create an image of the dangerous under-classes as opposed to the class of decent working people.
Introduction to debate on the new 'under classes'1
Update on Hartz IV/welfare reform, 2005
Article by prol-position on the reforms of German unemployment benefit after their introduction, and the effects it has had on the working class.
Protests against welfare-reform in Germany, 2004
Account an analysis of struggles against the abolition of unemployment benefits in Germany, which would immediately affect 600,000 people.
Unwaged fightback - A history of Islington Action Group of the Unwaged - 1980-86
The history of an unwaged workers' group in 1980s London, its efforts to establish and run a centre for the unemployed and its relationship to the Miners' Strike and other struggles of its times.
Note: this is the text from a pamphlet produced in late 1987 by the Campaign for Real Life. The pamphlet was more interesting as it included more examples of the group’s leaflets and posters, and newspaper articles.
The text has not been changed, except for spelling mistakes, even though the writer’s views have changed over the past 20 years.
===========
An "army of pensioners" to protest reforms
The National Pensioners Convention have called for a rally in London to protest propsed pension reforms, the BBC have reported.
Pensioners are to protest over planned reforms which they say will not help people already struggling to pay bills.
The National Pensioners Convention - organiser of the central London rally - says the Pensions White Paper contains "nothing of immediate benefit".
Dealing with accusations of benefit fraud guide
Some tips and advice for any claimants who are facing accusations of benefit fraud.
The Government spends hundreds of thousands of pounds talking about this but actually has little success prosecuting alleged fraudsters. It is important to remember that receiving benefits you are not entitled to does not automatically make you guilty.
Overpayments of benefits can be caused through official error and claimant error and may not actually be classifiable as fraudulent.
Public sector pensions
Factsheet about the issues around pensions for workers of public sector organisations.
A very different animal from private sector pensions, the public sector pension was set up to be effective immediately, and thus did not work on a pension pot principle.
Private sector pensions
Factsheet about the issues around pensions for workers of private sector companies.
Private sector pension schemes are usually run in larger companies, such as those in the FTSE 100 of Britain’s richest corporations.
Pensions crisis
An in-depth look at the pensions crisis currently hitting the UK, affecting pensions of both public and private sector workers.
What's the issue?
Pensions across both the public and private sectors are under attack, with increasingly strong measures being taken to try and reduce the amount paid to workers on retirement, and increase the amount of time spent at work before retirement is an option.
Who's affected?
