Diary of a Brighton Marcher

About the March

In 1936, hundreds of unemployed workers marched from their homes in Jarrow to London.

The 1930s were a period of mass unemployment and few public services, with the vast majority of people forced into being dependent on the charity of the rich.

It is exactly these conditions that the Con-Dem coalition is seeking to bring back into existence.

There are half a million jobs for over two and a half million unemployed – in some areas there can be over 50 Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) recipients chasing every single job. Nearly a million young people are unemployed (973,000 16-24 year olds).

The government's plans are to make these people work for free through 'work experience'!

Cuts in careers advice, such as Connexions, and youthclubs mean young people have literally nowhere to go.

Graduate unemployment has risen dramatically over the last few years, and half of those on internships are receiving no pay whatsoever. Fees of up to £9,000 are a massive deterrent to all but the richest.

With the abolition of EMA college enrolment has already slowed down significantly.

We are demanding:

- A massive government scheme to create jobs which are socially useful and apprenticeships which offer guaranteed jobs at the end – both paying at least the minimum wage, with no youth exemptions.

- The immediate reinstatement of EMA payments, expanding them to be available to all 16-19 year olds.

- The immediate re-opening of all youth services that have been closed, including reinstating sacked staff.

- The scrapping of ‘workfare’ schemes – benefits should be based on need not forced slave labour.

- A massive building programme of environmentally sound, cheap social housing.

Monday, 3 October 2011

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