http://www.ippr.org.uk/uploadedFiles/events/events-transcript-alexander-101105.pdf
Well, finally a comprehensive speech from Labour on Welfare Reform.
My own white-hot-fury bars me at the moment from comment, but any of you committed enough to read the whole speech can get it above.
There are many parts that I agree with and I was certainly pleased to see an opposition to dropping DLA mobility payments for adults in social care.
The rest will have to wait until I am capable of speech that won't turn the air blue.
I've read a good bit of it and this is the part that relates to Disabled people
ReplyDeleteWe will asses each of their proposals on its merits judging whether it is fair, proportionate and assists or hinders the transition into work.
Proposals such as; reforming the DLA gateway, continuing the IB to ESA transition and continuing to drive down fraud all fall into this category.
But many of the cuts simply fail this test; while some are just plain cruel. Cutting Housing Benefit by 10 per cent for people who have been looking for work for a year. Cutting DLA for people in care homes. Ending the Child Trust Fund for kids in care. Where is the ‘reform’ in these measures?"
In other words, don't expect any succour from Labour, sadly we have no friends, Disabled people seem to be fair game for attack.
Hence the White Hot Fury!!
ReplyDeleteWill post more when under control, lol
Sue.......Now why wouldn't you want to turn the air, ' blue ' ? :-)
ReplyDeleteVirtually everyone on benefits should be on an active journey towards work, with support and conditions tailored to their personal circumstances.
ReplyDeleteNo one with the desire and the motivation to work should be denied that opportunity, requiring positive action and smart investments.
People should be properly rewarded for their hard work, through a fair tax and benefits system and justice in the labour market.
It's bull shit another Newer labour idealism of the concervative party. Labour Tory Tory labour.
You will learn Sue the world has changed, shall we rise the stars and stripes now.
Forgot of course you have to find Jesus Christ, you know the bloke who runs the great employment agency thats gives out work to cripples retards and people like well you know untouchables.
ReplyDeleteA £760m scheme run by the private sector targeted to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefit had "limited effect", MPs have warned.
ReplyDeleteThe public accounts committee published a report finding using private sector companies in the Pathways to Work scheme had "universally failed"
Under the programme, launched in 2005, private sector companies were brought in to target those on incapacity benefit to see if they were fit for work – and to find them a job.
MPs found the private providers had "seriously underperformed" and had lower success rates than Jobcentre Plus.
There is no evidence that any of the 125,000 people who came off incapacity benefits in the same period did so as a result of the programme, the report says.
The report found companies tended to "cherry pick" the easiest clients and only achieved a third of their targets for getting into work people who were required to go through the programme.
The group of MPs found the firms' performance was "universally poor" and the project was not planned enough ahead of its national roll out.
In 2008-9 the benefits bill for the 2.6 million people on incapacity benefits was £12.6bn.
I'm enjoying this my email is full of labour supporters asking have labour lost it.
Labour have spent billions getting 200,000 people off sickness, Thatcher spent nothing and got 200,000 off sickness.
What people forget lots of people who go sick get better, some have heart attacks, some have cancer, some break backs, break legs they do get better, they go back to work.
When I went to Remploy inter works they looked at me and said my god your not looking for work are you. I was then sent to the shaw trust and they said oh my god where do we put you. They had an advert on the office wall saying person wanted off worker to help out, 20 hours a week, so I applied for it, and I did not even get an interview, they told me it would not suit a disabled person. It would not suit a disabled person, just by saying that they broke the law because they did not see me as a person but a disabled person.
But in the end all this hype about getting us back to work is dead without employers employing us
""But in the end all this hype about getting us back to work is dead without employers employing us""
ReplyDeleteAye Robert and how many places actually have the access or facilities for disabled people to be able to work in them. If I went for a job sitting in my wheelchair and saying I;d have to work round when I started with my carers and someone who was fit, walking and free all the time went for the same job who would the employer pick. And its no good us going on about discrimination. I we were employers who we we choose,they're businesses out to make money
Sue.....Blimey you're quick on the uptake, canvassing for Blues on UKPR, exquisite. :-)
ReplyDeleteJust wait and see.....
ReplyDeleteSee what sue, you must have seen the News today, and I have just had an email saying labour is backing this 100%.
ReplyDeleteWelfare is the reason this country is in this mess, banking and housing all caused by people claiming sickness."Or so they say"
Do not get me wrong I've seen enough people to know we do have problems with welfare, but 2 million people cheating I think not.
can I work yes without doubt I can work with the right help and assistance, but if you spend ten years going around places like the Shaw Trust and Remploy and the Job Center you know things are not going to be easy.
I use a wheelchair or crutches, my last spell at the job center, all I do is go in and three jobs are waiting for me to chase.
Window cleaner, Taxi driver, long distance lorry driver, I cannot drive a lorry DWP had my license taken off me by the DVLA. window cleaning how the hell do I climb the ladder.
@ Robert
ReplyDelete"But in the end all this hype about getting us back to work is dead without employers employing us "
Absolutely right Robert.
There are laws about Access.
People who use wheelchairs should force their implementation where it stands between you & a job.
Things are improving-but they can be better.
My Daughter -who is not ambulant & uses a wheelchair-got a good job last year-access & facilities are terrific-but it's in the public sector !
Good luck.
Colin
Robert
ReplyDelete"I use a wheelchair or crutches, my last spell at the job center, all I do is go in and three jobs are waiting for me to chase.
Window cleaner, Taxi driver, long distance lorry driver, I cannot drive a lorry DWP had my license taken off me by the DVLA. window cleaning how the hell do I climb the ladder. "
THis makes my blood boil!
Surely the manager of your JobCentre knows better than that.
Forgive the stupid question-but have you kicked up stink about it?
In the past the public sector has provided a lot of jobs for people with disabilities and chronic illness but with the spending cuts the public sector is more likely to be making staff redundant than taking any new staff on. Equally many charities that have provided job and training for people with disabilities will see large cuts in funding especially with local authorities cutting grants. So hundreds of thousands of people will see benefits cut at the same time as seeing job opportunities cut.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed this week a story about small businesses putting pressure on the government to make changes to employment law so that it would be easier to sack employees. So even if some one with a disability or chronic illness is able to secure a job the first time they take any time off for illness they are more likely to get a P45 rather than chocolates and flowers.
Robert. I have every sympathy for you. That's why I set up this blog.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm on your side. Stop attacking me.
When I said "wait and see" I meant wait and see how scathing I am about Alexander's speech.
I will write my blog later today.
PLEASER stop wasting your energy attacking me (I'm on your side) and turn your fire where it matters.
First it's illegal now to put in place jobs for disabled people, every disabled person and non disabled person must be seen as equal, it would be illegal to give a job to a disabled person if a more qualified person was a non disabled person.
ReplyDeleteJobs at the job center, all of these private job providers use the job centers computer, as a disabled person i was given the Job centers pass word so I can look on my own computer to seek jobs. The sad fact we do not have special jobs we have to accept ordinary jobs like driving, like bar staff, picking up litter, just normal every day jobs there are no such things as jobs for the disabled.
What the government are really saying and Labour did say this, lots of disabled people can do the jobs, many are educated with degree's other have A levels and a lot more are just not interested in working. Lets be honest about this employers were asked by labour to find a social conscientious but sadly we do not have many of those around.
Sue you have to make your self clear I cannot mind read what your saying.
You said "wait and see", which to me means lets see what the politicians do.
But I'm attacking nobody for god sake I know what people are going through.
Robert
ReplyDelete"First it's illegal now to put in place jobs for disabled people, every disabled person and non disabled person must be seen as equal, it would be illegal to give a job to a disabled person if a more qualified person was a non disabled person."
I understand thatRobert.
I was responding to your post that your job centre gave you job options for which you were physically unsuited.
I am going to make my own enquiries-the job which my daughter obtained was with JobCentre ( though on a temporary contract-so we have our fingers all crossed )
"The sad fact we do not have special jobs "
No -I understand-but where a job is within the capability of the disabled person, everything else should be a level playing field.
My comments about access -there is legal redress on this & if it stood between me & a job I would use it.
Colin
Thats the problem I'm in a wheelchair I have massive problems with pain, bowel and bladder problems, a blooming Chimpanzees could out work me. But the job center has no special jobs, it just has lists of jobs for people and they have to fit me in with the jobs.
ReplyDeleteThose jobs I highlighted are nothing to what i was offered by the Shaw trust, Bricklayer I could lay the bottom row of bricks, painter decorator, I could paint skirting boards.
They have nothing else because in my area we have 29% unemployment although labour tried to say it was 2%.
Short term contracts are the norm for the disabled it means the company can sack you without the worry of going to a tribunal or court, you must be employed for over twelve months before your covered by law, every job I've had has been six months or twelve months , but I was always let go on the eleventh month.
Access is a bit iffy retails have to give access unless the cost is to hight or the building is listed or has other structural problems. Also do not forget the DRC which took on these cases has now gone, anyone taking on a case now would not get legal aid, if you were to lose my god it could cost you thousands.
Believe me redress is one thing paying the bill if you lose is another.
factories and offices have a good solid get out clause on access it costs to much.
Sue, have you actually written to Ed with your concerns and suggestions?
ReplyDeleteI understand where you are coming from, not just from professional point of view, but from a personal one.
I think our own comprehensive review of this particular problem is called for, but if we do not actually tell him?
Gracie - it's a response to Douglas Alexander's speech! A response to the Labour reaction to Welfare Reform.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ippr.org.uk/uploadedFiles/events/events-transcript-alexander-101105.pdf
I have NEVER criticised Labour publicly before and it breaks my heart to do so now.
Robert
ReplyDelete" But the job center has no special jobs, it just has lists of jobs for people and they have to fit me in with the jobs."
But that is the way it works Robert.
I have taken advice from my daughter who works in JobCentre.
All applicants should be offered ALL vacancies for which they are suitable.
If your jobcentre offered you-a wheelchair user-a vacancy for window cleaner then they clearly did not do their job properly. You should complain to the manager.
With regard to access, the Law says that Disabled people should not be discriminated against in the workplace. Inadequate access to a job you could do is discrimination.THe DRCs role has been taken on by the EQuality Commission. You have access to them -and of course to your local CAB.
For your interest , if a disabled person in a wheelchair , who is numerate & literate, walked into my daughter's JC today,there are a range of appropriate vacancies which would be offered. THey are almost all-but not entirely Administrative jobs.
Of course-I am not familiar with your local area.
Good Luck.
Colin
Look the bottom line on this is that the government will push through these changes and those people most affected will sink
ReplyDeleteThe people of the country in general do not care for the venerable and as sad as that is we will have to bear whatever is delivered
I cant see at this time any politician or in the house of lords who is going to go out of his way and publicly support us as by doing so will ruin his/her career in politics