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Monday 19 May 2014

Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group to leaflet Kilburn Jobcentre, Thursday 22 May, 12 Noon till 1pm

There will be no Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group business meeting on Thursday 22 May because of Kingsgate Community Centre meeting venue's use as a polling station

Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group to leaflet Kilburn Jobcentre, 3 Cambridge Avenue, NW6 5AH, Thursday 22 May, 12 Noon till 1pm

We decided to leaflet outside Kilburn Jobcentre Election Day (Thursday 22/5) to show we still about 12-1pm. We are particularly interested to find out what is happening about daily signings on. We are handing out the Mirror Jobcentre Whistleblower article.

Meanwhile, what is happening to Iain Duncan Smith's 'Community Work Placements'?

We will also be joined by our friendly blogger contact Kate Belgrave, and are also likely to be joined by members of political parties who find common cause with KUWG.

Friday 16 May 2014

Free the JT (John Tymon) n Decriminalise Herb Day!

Free the JT (John Tymon) n Decriminalis Herb Day!

 Innocent man given sentence of suspense

TrixXxie writes:

Here are photos of today. John Tymon's court date.

Pam (right prole of RMT banner) poses with KUWG's alternative to 'scales of justice' statue




John Tymon talks to video operator


Those attending were the Tymon Two; John and Virginia (Mrs JT) along with Didi, Angela, Yiannis who went inside with the Tymon Two (court that is not jail).

On the outside and protesting were; Herbert flash Gordon, Clarence, Abby, Alan, Annie, John, Eddie(RMT), Carol, John, Gemma, Pam and photographers Heather and Barry.

John's case has been pushed to October.

Great weather, speeches and as ever, response from public. Oh and there was music. See CJ the DJ to find out which bands!

Thursday 15 May 2014

Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group objects to police behaviour surrounding a West Hampstead eviction

Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group objects to police behaviour surrounding a recent Camden eviction

OPEN LETTER FROM KILBURN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS GROUP TO:
  • The Borough Commander
    Chief Superintendent Harrington
    Borough Police Headquarters for Camden
    Holborn Police Station, 10 Lamb's Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3NR
  • Station Managers for Holburn and Kentish Town Police Stations,
  • plus whoever ran the TSG Eviction at 1 Lymington Road, West Hampstead,10.4.14

Dear Commander Harrington et al
We from KUWG are requesting that the charge against John T. (Irish Pensioner) of “intentionally”…obstructing a “High” court baillff is dropped, and the caution given to Herbert G (Black Sick-on ESA) is recinded too. At least 10 other people who were protesting much longer on the day were also arrested but were subsequently de-arrested, and we believe this option should have been given to John T and Herbert G because as it stands it shouts out discrimination.

There is video footage of Top Cops coming to the premises on 10.4.14 and on 3 occasions CLEARLY DO NOT mention “High” court bailiffs, and a lady with Mark B (Jewish-Sick ESA & DLA), did not hear “High” court bailiff being used, so it was never used from start-to-finish so how could there be any intention to stop a “High” court bailiff?
John McDonnell MP (Lab) has written letter of support for John T & Herbert G & for protest for Mark B

We believe you should use your legal powers, to explain to the CPS that there is unlikely to be a prosecution, and that it is definitely NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST to be chastising these two peaceful men.

We have met Mark B’s landlord a couple of times, and had no animosity against him, but he wasn’t replying to Mark B or Camden Council on whether he had a room after all for Mark B which was NOT CITED in his eviction papers. Camden Council also knew Nygel Firminger ex- KUWG, had killed himself when evicted, vulnerable like Mark B, and we have the emails evidencing Camden Council’s full knowledge. As at least 1 bailiff from that was at Lymington Road it was assumed he was still a County Court bailiff…do they change roles even though the same people?

Protest for John T's court case from 09:15am (if case not stopped), Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, Friday 16th May 2014

(5 minutes from Highbury & Islington Stn

 
Kilburn unemployed workers group have leafleted outside Holborn and Kentish town police stations 4-5pm Tuesday 13th May 2014 PHOTO BY: :CROSSROADS WOMEN AV COLLECTIVE
 
 KUWG have done quite a few protests and leafleting sessions outside Kilburn Jobcentre mainly, and Atos Neasden & Lisson Grove, where the DWP & ATOS have maliciously wasted police time by calling the police out to us, and the police have told us we were behaving legally. Don’t allow Camden Council to use you too as guinea pigs! We have therefore had a good working relationship with the police and therefore invite you to speak at one of our weekly meetings. We have regular Guest Speakers-having Glenda Jackson MP and Kilburn Jobcentre Manager and PCS Union Rep for example in the past.

We are an open and democratic organisation and therefore have no leaders, and ALWAYS publicise any public events we are holding, as we are more angry than we are frightened, and don’t believe in being secretive in our ideas & actions- we are for instance against Social/Class cleansing as we believe it is still illegal…despite this government’s plans.
KILBURN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS GROUP MEETS EVERY THURSDAY THE SMALL HALL , KINGSGATE COMMUNITY CENTRE, 107 KINGSGATE ROAD, WEST HAMPSTEAD, NW6 2JH (ALTHOUGH NOT 22/5 DUE TO CENTRE BEING USED AS POLIING STATION) EMAIL: KILBURNUWG@GMAIL.COM PHONE: 07535 804 328

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Kate Belgrave on the realities of a daily trip to Wembley Jobcentre on 'accessible transport'

Kate Belgrave on the realities of a daily trip to Wembley Jobcentre on 'accessible transport'


This relates to the ConDems' 'help to work' scheme by which benefit long-term [over 2 years] claimants are obliged to attend the jobcentre on a daily basis, and the video in question was taken on the dubiously named 'accessible transport day'.


Kate Belgrave writes:
".... It was raining, which meant the bus was crowded. There were two buggies in the wheelchair space and nobody offered to fold theirs, so Angela had to sit in the doorway in her wheelchair – hardly ideal, as you’ll see. Then, things escalated – par for the course in a crowded bus with space taken up by buggies. One of the people with a buggy had to get off the bus before we got to our stop. Angela pushed the button to call for the ramp so that she could get off the bus, make room for one of the people with the buggies to get off and then get back on. Unfortunately, the driver didn’t realise all this was going on and he shut the doors on Angela’s foot as she tried to get back on. When she did get back on, he came over to remonstrate. ...."

Alan Wheatley

Wednesday 7 May 2014

Kate Belgrave asks:When will the #PCS leadership act to stop #sanctions?

Kate Belgrave asks:When will the #PCS leadership act to stop #sanctions?


Forwarding note by Swheatie of the KUWG: While forwarding the link below, I note that yesterday I attended a Department for Work & Pensions 'Customer Compliance Section' interview at Kentish Town Jobcentre, where I was told that HM Revenue & Customs had passed on to Jobcentre Plus information that in 2010/11 over £800 interest accrued on a Co-operative Bank a/c registered at my address that I had not told them about — and that I knew nothing about. The really great thing was that I had a friend with me from Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group and so I did not fall to pieces as I would have done otherwise and my accompanist was so brilliantly practical that after I had signed a statement that I had never had a Co-operative Bank a/c, she said to me, "How about walking to the Co-operative Bank branch along this street and enquiring there, rather than doing everything by post?" and so we got a letter of confirmation from that branch stating that according to their records no such a/c existed, leading to a smile from the 'Customer Compliance Section' interviewer and a much relieved but still shocked me. But is the witch-hunt drive to uncover 'undeclared income', coupled with involvement of private companies on 'payment by results' in public service delivery leading to a state of 'guilty until proven innocent'?

Anyhow, on to Kate Belgrave's blog:
http://www.katebelgrave.com/2014/05/when-will-the-pcs-leadership-act-to-stop-sanctions/

Tuesday 6 May 2014

BOOK LAUNCH: A Precariat Charter: From Denizens* to Citizens

A Precariat Charter Poster
Guy Standing, SOAS Professor of Development Studies
Date: 6 May 2014  Time: 6:00 PM — arrive early [doors open 5:30pm]
Finishes: 6 May 2014 Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental & African Studies
U. LondonThornhaugh Street, WC1H 0XG
Room: Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre

Type of Event: Book Launch

Throughout history, class-based revolt has led to the creation of charters of demands, from the Magna Carta to South Africa’s Freedom Charter. It is now time for a Precariat Charter.

‘Guy Standing has elaborated a brave and imaginative program that could bring protection to the denizens of the world and save us all from the destructiveness of neoliberal capitalism.’ Michael Burawoy, University of California, Berkeley, USA 

‘This insightful and encouraging book will be welcomed not only by members of the precariat but by non-precarians on the left seeking inspiration for a new progressive programme.’ Claus Offe, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, Germany

‘His call for ‘‘social empathy’’ in politics offers an important corrective to decades of neoliberalism, while his demand for rethinking the nature of work rightly seeks to undo centuries of damaging thought.’ Natalie Bennett, Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales

‘A graphic account of the increasing insecurity and poverty facing many people in the contemporary age, pointing to clear and workable solutions to many entrenched problems.’ Tracy Shildrick, co-author of Poverty and Insecurity: Life in Low-Pay, No-Pay Britain

‘Building on the groundwork laid by Occupy Wall Street and similar movements, this Charter is a gift to all who aspire to forge a new society in which human work has meaning and workers’ rights are fully respected.’ Ruth Milkman, City University of New York, USA

‘The only way for politicians to get ahead of the curve is to consider such ideas seriously. We must dare to give a real meaning to human rights and the concept of economic democracy in the twenty-first century.’ Laszlo Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Guy Standing is Professor of Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, UK, and co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network.

Organiser: Professor Guy Standing

Contact email: guystanding@standingnet.com

Note:
* A denizen is an inhabitant