Rally against dole scheme
By Rex McLeod
MELBOURNE — Some 400-500 building workers and activists from the Unemployed Workers Union demonstrated here on June 25 outside the Southern Cross Hotel, where the Newstart scheme was being launched by Commonwealth Employment Service and Department of Social Security management.
The action was organised by the Victorian Trades Hall Council, the Public Sector Union and the Victorian Council of Social Service. VCOSS executive director Robert Hudson warned that up to 80,000 people could be forced off the dole in the first year of the new scheme.
VTHC secretary John Halfpenny said, "The real tragedy is that we have a Labor government demolishing the right of unemployed workers to income support".
CES workers belonging to the Public Sector Union have voted nationwide to place bans on the coercive and compulsory elements of the Newstart activity contracts.
Skillshare workers have decided to refuse to report on the performance or compliance of unemployed persons forced to undertake training with them.
The Community Campaign Against Newstart, which unites a broad range of activists, is organising a City Square rally on July 26 around the demand of Income Security Not Newstart. For further information, phone the Unemployed Workers Union on 650 4890 or Andrew on 429 3290 or 329 1277.