Stop the cruel sanctions regime

Imagine arriving two minutes late for work, and instead of your boss giving you ‘that look’ or a joke at your expense, they told you you’d be working for half-pay for the next 3 months? That’s effectively what thousands of welfare claimants up and down the country are going through. Often its because buses have run late or in the most tragic cases, because of real medical emergencies. The DWP are increasingly pushing their staff to police the lives of the poor.

Stand with us against benefit sanctions this Thursday at 12pm!

We’ll be gathering in Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate from 12noon this Thursday with a banner and fliers, calling for an end to benefit sanctions and the controversial targets being set for Job Centre and other DWP staff. Across the country People’s Assembly and Unite Community Union members will be taking similar action.

We’re not trying to target Job Centre staff: we know the pressure ultimately comes from the government, and many feel unhappy with the sanctions regime. Some have spoken out about the horrific attitudes to the poorest from managers handing out US-police style badges to whoever registers the most sanctions (read more here).

Join us this Thursday and let’s make a noise about sanctions!