14.03.1996

Protest against workfare

In brief

The guinea pigs are squealing. The guinea pigs are in revolt.

Tory government plans to introduce a pilot ‘Project Work’ scheme - workfare, no dole without forced labour - are rousing strong resistance in Kent.

The area chosen for the pilot runs from Gravesend to the county town, Maidstone. This has a population around three quarters of a million, larger than Manchester, Liverpool or Sheffield.

Plenty of guinea pigs here. Unemployment in the Tory years has been running well above the national averages, touching 16% at times.

Capitalism has destroyed its own industrial base. Something like 100,000 jobs have gone in the area. A paper making industry has all but been wiped out; a power station; an oil refinery; dozens of engineering works have gone. Plus all the job losses in the service industries - utilities, transport and local government.

Capitalism is trying to off-load its developing economic and political crisis onto the backs of a weakened working class. Either we resist or surrender. Class conscious workers have this chance to resist.

Medway Trades Council in north Kent is organising a rally against the Tory workfare attack in parallel with a north of England protest rally in Hull.

Both are on Saturday April 13. In Chatham Riverside, Dock Road, beside Chatham library at 12 noon. This overlooks the Medway and Chatham naval dockyard, which was closed, making 7,000 jobless at the beginning of Thatcher’s reign.

Here is a chance to protest against workfare, to defend jobs.

Reg Weston