by Keith Sinclair, Secretary, Hull Trades Union Council
The Tories' decision to extend the Workfare scheme 'Project Work' has come as no surprise to trade unionists in the pilot areas of Hull and Kent. Gillian Shephard's initial announcement of the extension was made at the Conservative Party conference. Even The Economist pointed out it was 'bad politics' to extend a pilot before that pilot had been properly evaluated. But the Tories' concern has always been to use the unemployed as a political weapon in the run-up to the election.
The Tories understand clearly that Project Work is an attack on both the employed and the unemployed. The attack on the unemployed is clear but the attack on the employed is equally important. The Tories wish to create a reserve army of cheap labour which will undermine the battle for decent pay and conditions in unionised workplaces. The fight against Project Work should therefore involve every active trade unionist not just those who are unemployed or work in particular sectors.
Project Work forces the long-term unemployed to work for £10 a week plus benefit or to give up their benefit. The details of Project Work and the need for opposition have been outlined in previous issues of this bulletin. The purpose of this article is to suggest some lessons for other areas from our campaign against the Pilot Scheme in North Humberside.
Once an area has been identified for Project Work, opposition to the scheme has to be mobilised very quickly and needs to involve a range of tactics. In Hull, we combined high profile public campaigning e.g. a demonstration with persuading organisations not to be involved. As early as possible, a number of people should sit down and try to think of every possible organisation that might be approached to be involved. Some are obvious, others are not. Internal organisation is often complicated e.g. we were assured by local members that the British Trust For Conservation Volunteers were not to be involved at the same time as their regional office was advertising for staff to run Project Work! Hull City Council boycotted the scheme but an individual school got involved and had to be reminded of the council policy.
Your local council will be approached early on to be involved either as a provider or as a source of placements. It is vital that they oppose. Winning over Labour groups is key here. National Labour Party policy is to oppose Project Work. Labour groups have to be won over through activities such as getting Labour Parties on record against the schemes, using affiliated union branches to put resolutions through local Parties and individual discussions with the more sympathetic councillors. Every time a councillor hears the arguments, it helps persuade him/her to vote appropriately in the group and council. Whatever differences active trade unionists might have with their councils on other issues, it is essential that approaches are made early in the process. Far, far better to be in a united front with your Labour council against the Tories rather than condemning them afterwards for making a bad decision. In areas with Liberal Democrat councillors, they need to be argued with. It was an alliance of the Liberals and the Tories that got the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to offer placements for Project Work.
Getting the council to oppose is important for a number of related reasons:
Union opposition has to be central not only for those directly involved such as civil servants in unions like the CPSA and PTC but also unions representing areas where Project Work placements might take place e.g. the NUT and UNISON in schools. Most councils will formally consult unions about any proposed involvement in Project Work. All council unions need to be lobbied. The sad reality is that councils will not only consult the NUT and NASUWT for teachers' views, they will also consult organisations that represent sectional and reactionary interests such as the Secondary Heads Association and the scab Professional Association of Teachers. Unions like the CYWU have adopted excellent national conference policies following initiatives from Humberside members. This should help in every area facing Project Work.
Sections of the voluntary sector such as charities are often well unionised so speakers should address their union branches and office meetings. Vital information about approaches to charities can be acquired here. Such workers could be in any one of range of unions e.g. TGWU(ACTS). Further education is also a vital battleground. The involvement of a large college can result in many placements. Again talk to all unions. One tactic that we floated was union withdrawal from Investor in People working parties if management got involved in Project Work.
The role of the unemployed is obviously important both in terms of publicity and action. After all, Project Work is supposed to be about helping unemployed people. We know it's a lie, we need to persuade everyone else of that view. Local unemployed centres and groups should be able to play a key role here. The lack of an unemployed workers centre certainly didn't help us in Hull. One weakness of our campaign was the relatively small on-going involvement of those actually on the scheme. One area we didn't get round to was recruiting people on Project Work to unions, other areas could certainly try this.
Project Work attracts a lot of local and national media attention. Be bold with your press releases and activities. Lobbies, pickets, stunts all have a role to play. The national media are interested so include them when issuing press releases.
Finally, never forget that the Tories don't give a damn about the unemployed. As sure as night follows day, stories will be planted in the media about "benefit cheats" etc.. Ensure immediate responses from unions and advice centres. Indeed, the Tories increasingly focus on benefit savings as being proof of Project Work's success. Be ready with instant rebuttals with individual cases. The media like the human angle, the more unemployed people who are willing to speak out the better will be the coverage.
Get a friendly civil service trade unionist to go through exactly how the (un)employment figures are fiddled. Get your brain round the statistics and how they are manipulated, they do matter. Become an 'expert' on all the reasons why people sign off the dole. Employment Service management will try to create the impression that those signing off the dole are either a) going into jobs or b) "fiddling" the social security system. Always try to keep the focus on the lack of any real jobs being created and the need for full employment and a national minimum wage.
Hull Trades Council are willing to help other areas where possible. We can provide contact with Labour councillors, voluntary sector activists, CPSA Employment Service and DSS trade unionists who have been involved in the campaign in North Humberside.
Contacts:
Keith Sinclair
Hull Trades Council 01482-802050 (phone-evenings/week-end) fax on same number
Tom McVie, Hull Labour Councillor, CPSA member 01482-797393
Hull CPSA activists c/o Hull Trades Council