ACC say “NEIN” to the N.F.

Posted on 05/04/2012 by

Aberdeen City Council has rejected the Scottish NATIONAL Fronts application to have a Jackbooted, hand in hand, romantic evening stroll from The Adelphi to Union Terrace Gardens to protest against the SNP setting up their right-wing political party on Hitler’s Birthday and stealing the day from them.

What, no party for little old me?

The Scottish NATIONAL Fronts are very keen indeed to capture back the RIGHT from the RIGHT and are declaring a large and loud NEIN! NEIN!! NEIN!!! to the Scottish NATIONAL Party’s blatant cashing in on their dead celabrity’s birthday fame.

This is of course all in the run up to May’s local elections where the Scottish NATIONAL Fronts are running against the Scottish NATIONAL Party. They hope to reclaim the Führer’s birthday all for their lonesome selves and win some seats of MIGHTY, MIGHTY power! Lets hope if they do win they have some cunning plans on how to remove Aberdeen City Council’s massive debt of £0.5 BILLION (I Doubt it – Ed).

"Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate"

Outside the local licensing committee meeting, after the march was banned, Wee Barry “bawbugz” McSwastika from the Aberdeen branch of the Scottish NATIONAL Fronts told this reporter  “Right, ken…we’re nea happy wi the Scottish NATIONAL Party claim’in the rights teh cut loose n’ perty on Hilter’s  – Zieg Heil! – birthday, Ken. We’re nea Nazis or that, ken, bit unless we’re givin back Hilter’s  – Zieg Heil! – birthday so we kin heh oor ain perty there is a very real risk o’ Muslamic tourists wi rayguns and shireeeahaaz laws tak’in ower, ken”.

Unperturbed and unhindered by intelligence, decency, local regulations and law the Scottish NATIONAL Fronts may still attend in some form;  possibly in the form of a small angry group of fat middle aged men with short hair cuts and low intelligence looking nervous, surrounded by Grampian’s finest (possibly, even Aberdeen’s brand spanky new Riot trained extra special trained Riot Squad or A.B.S.N.R.T.E.S.T.R.S. as they are known locally) and treating local late night shoppers and early evening drunks to such white power classics as “Springtime for Hitler and Germany” and “Underneath the Lamplight”.

"Spring Time for Hitler & Germany"

An alert and keen Antifa have assured this very nervous reporter that they will be on the streets just in case.

Stay tuned dear readers for more details.

Words by Geronimo Farquhar II (local council reporter).

 

 

Posted in Dirty Hoof, EDL, Election, Fascist, Gonzo, N.F., Protest, Satire, Scottish National Front, SDL | Leave a comment

Ohhh, I do like to be beside the seaside….

Posted on 26/03/2012 by

Q: What the best way to annoy approximately 700 Scottish trade unionists, unemployed folk, students, anarchists, communists and leftist agitators?

A: Have the Scottish Conservative Party [TorySkum.Ltd.] annual party conference in Troon.

Q: What the best way to REALLY annoy approximately 700 marching trade unionists, unemployed folk, students, anarchists, communists and leftist agitators?

A: Have the Scottish Conservative party [TorySkum.Ltd.] annual party conference in Troon stand outside the conference hall in a fenced off area surrounded by cops waving their wallets and union jacks at said 700 marching trade unionists, unemployed folk, students, anarchists, communists and leftist agitators…

Tory party Conference 2012.

…Some members of A.A. started early with not enough sleep to catch the bus to Dundee where the very nice folks from the TUC has spared up some seats on their bus for us. We left Aberdeen in the fog and arrived in Dundee (in the fog) in good time to make the bus. We said a quick hello to Occupy Dundee, got lost and started to worry that we would miss the TUC bus, fortunately some nice people pointed us in the right direction and we made it in time for departure.

The sun had got glorious by the time we arrived in Troon; a fine day to be by the seaside and we bemoaned our lack of buckets, spades and Frisbees. We also lost power to our megaphone, which would mean sore throats by teatime for some. It looked like a decent enough turn out, the mood was good and jovial, the sun was shining and all was well. We avoided those pesky newspaper vendors we made our way to the nosiest section of the crowd who were a bunch of Students and young folk from Glasgow.

Cops leave the march half way through the march

The ninja like and subtle undercover cops were hanging around as per, blending in as best they can.

notice these guys are advanced level - no Cat Boots on!

all was normal! Although It does worry me that my tax money pays these guys wages and as the only thing that would make those bunch of undercover less obvious would be a massive floating Neon sign above their heads saying “Warning, Cops Below!” Is this seriously the best they can manage? Still, it felt like the beginnings of a fine day out and some fun times for all.

then the cops come back and get ice-cream.

then two more come back...for ice cream.

So, clearly we were not the only folk out for a day at the seaside. A joint Strathclyde / Edinburgh police operation was in place to ensure the safety of all 6 members of the Scottish Conservative Party [TorySkum.Ltd.] We reckon that it must have cost Scottish Conservative Party [TorySkum.Ltd] a good few quid for protection from the angry voters last Saturday. Loads and loads of plod on the street, riot squads in vans on both ends of the promenade, 6 horses with riders (who do not give folk shots along the beach, nor supply donkeys for the same purpose, we asked), 6 undercover, 2 FIT teams on boats just offshore, mountain bike cops, loads of top brass hanging around looking shifty and to make the party complete (because it’s never a proper protest without one) the only police helicopter in Scotland.

Floating FIT

We then headed down the promenade in the mobile kettle (which definitely wasn’t a kettle) to wonder past the Scottish Conservative Party [TorySkum.Ltd.] annual party conference hall. When we got there we were surprised to see them all outside the hall, fenced in, surrounded by police but… outside? When we got over the shock of that and the shock that none of them were screaming in pain and turning to dust we turned up the volume. Of course it didn’t help calm the mood when they stood there waving their wallets and union jacks at us, but as we are dignified in our indignation and  righteous anger all that happened was some youngsters set off a couple of emergency flares and shouted “Boo!” “Tory Skum!!” “Fuck off back to Eton!!!” and other relevant bòn mót’s.

”]”]
The march got a little split at this point and we were hurried on by the police and stewards, so we caught up and finished our fine day out with some fine words by various speakers on the crime that is mass youth unemployment. The members of AA then settled down to harass the floating FIT teams and to enjoy a nice picnic in the sun.

We had just decided by consensus that we should retire up the beach and secure some frozen treats that we were met by a moving square of Glasgow’s finest with the noisy students from the protest in the middle of them. As we always like to ensure that someone watches the watchmen we decided to investigate.

Our resident legal expert The Mighty Dangermouse instantly enquired as to why the kids were kettled to whit he was informed it was not a kettle, merely a small pot but the youth were not free to leave as earlier some cheeky rapscallion had let off some sparklers which frightened one of the TorySkum[tm] conference attendees sick dog and they were to be detained and searched before they would be allowed to leave on the bus home just in case they had more fireworks on them which may upset more dogs, cats, parrots or any small furry mammals like Hamsters or Gerbils in the area.

When we asked what law they were using to detain the kids and then things started to get confusing (remember folks, most cops know about as much as us about the law – not much!) so we were quoted Common Law, the Firework Act of 2008, 2001, 2011, 1868, The Gunpowder Treason and Plot Law and the brand new justifying our MASSIVE police bill for Troon Law. Even the Top Plod gave us different answers as to why the kids were being held.

So, we followed the mobile “pot not kettle” along to the students bus, filmed the entire stop and search, took all the police numbers and shouted out various bits of advice after we noticed the cops taking liberties:
“Name and address only!”
“You don’t have to show them ID in a pat down search!”
“Remember to get a receipt!”
We also asked some more questions of the police:
“Why are you asking the non-white members of the group where they were born?”
“Why are you searching the non white members of the group more thoroughly than the white folks?”
* Please note we are implying that there is inherent, systematic and inbred racism within the Police Farce but bar the token female they were awfully WASP like!

We also noticed that the police seemed very keen to film us all but really did not like being filmed by us whilst in the dereliction of their duties; we got it all on film though. Just in case!

Anti FIT super go team!

So after about an hour in the sun without being given any water the whole pointless nasty event was over, no one got charged (so far) and all the youth got on the bus to go home. Of course, the police did search under 16’s without consent or having guardians present – so if I were on that bus and under 16 I would be putting in a complaint. Although it seemed weird to us we must give kudos to the folk who for some strange reason joined the “pot not kettle” and got searched when they didn’t have too. Solidarity in effect!

We finally secured some icy snacks, caught our bus and headed back up to Dundee with the good folks from the TUC.

All in all it was a grand day out, and we would recommend to every reader that next year you also attend the Scottish Conservative party [TorySkum.Ltd.] annual party conference. There are only 6 of them and they get really, really lonely.

So… as the nation awakes to the latest (yet not in anyway surprising) scandal to emerge from TroySkum UK [plc] we can only hope that one day there will be no more Scottish Conservative party [TorySkum.Ltd.] annual party conference’s held in Scotland. Because (like all fascists party’s need to be) they should never be allowed to gather, they should be opposed at their every turn, met on the street and in the halls with words and force so they have no room to peddle their message of hate and their filthy politics will be consigned to the large toxic waste incinerator off history. For Ever!

Chant of the day: There’s 2 Scottish Pandas and 1 Scottish Tory!
Mask of the day: Panda Masks!
Overkill of the day: The police farce operation!
Ice cream of the day: A Mr Whippy 99 and raspberry sauce (not suitable for vegans, sorry.)
Dick of the Day: the Scottish Conservative party [TorySkum.Ltd.] annual party conference member waving his Union Jack postcard at us.
Wharra twat!

Pics by Murp-a-Lurp and JtossPot.
Words by the Dirty Hoof.

With love, solidarity and respect to Dundee TUC for the warm welcome and transport.

See you on the streets!

No Pasaran!

 

 

Posted in anarchism, Anti Cuts, Fascist, Gonzo, Protest, Satire, Student, Tory, Trade Union, TUC, Unemployment | 2 Comments

Doon to Toon. 24th March 2012

Posted on 20/03/2012 by

STUC march Troon 24th March 2012.

The Scottish Trade union council have called out for a seaside stroll and rally against youth unemployment to coincide the Scottish conservative party conference. Although we are not sure if a few Neo-Liberals standing in a cold empty auditorium, looking slightly embarrassed, hoping no one who knows them see’s them there can be classified as a conference.

Uk 2012

Transport has been arranged from most Scottish branches of the TUC and local unions. Please contact your local branch to see if they are involved and if they have seats left.

 It would be great to have a big turn out for this event, so bring your flags, masks and megaphones and make some noise.

 Youth unemployment is very high just now, with over 1million unemployed, a figure that is set to rise in 2012. Of course, capitalism needs a large pool of desperate workers, this helps keep wages low and also gives raise to modern slavery schemes like Workfare.

 As a special treat for us all “JustcallmeDave Ltd.” the head salesperson from the now infamous Toryskum[tm] Party will be in attendance. He, no doubt, will be up to inform the few Scottish members of the Toryskum[tm] Party what he is selling off next week.

 All 6 members of the Scottish branch of Toryskum[tm] Party (plus an elderly Asthmatic dog) will probably be pleading again for “JustcallmeDave Ltd.” to let them change their name so people in Scotland may begin to vote for them again.

 The Dirty Hoof thinks that may not quite work as we Scots are a canny bunch with long, long memories of the Thatcher nightmare and we already have enough rightwing wing-nuts who will sell us all to the highest bidder. They are called the SNP and Liberal “Democrats”

 If we had no Holyrood and no Unkle Salmon we do wonder which fine nation would be getting to try the NHS privatisation first. Just because Scots invented loads of cool stuff (and some bad) does not mean that we still choose to be used as a Petrie dish for any bent, Neo-Liberal experiments.

 

 See you on the streets!

 No Pasaran!

 Assemble – 12pm South Beech Esplanade -Victoria Drive.

March off 12:30pm.

Rally 1pm – South Beech Esplanade – Tichfield road.

 

 

 

Posted in Protest, Tory, Trade Union, TUC, Unemployment | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Hospital Workers Occupy!

Posted on 16/03/2012 by

The following statement has been made by the health workers occupying their hospital

Medical workers clash with the police in Greece.

Hello all,

Thank you so much for your interest and support.

The occupation of our hospital in Kilkis by its workers started on Monday, February
20th, 8:30 local time.

This occupation is not only about us, the physicians and the workers
at the Kilkis Hospital. Neither is it only about the Greek National
Health System, which is collapsing, indeed. We are in this fight because
what is in real danger now is the human rights and our lives. And this
threat is not against just a nation, or against a few countries, or a
few social groups, but against the low and middle classes in Europe,
America, Asia, Africa, in the whole world.

Today’s Greece, is tomorrow’s picture of Portugal, Spain, Italy and the rest of the
countries worldwide.

The workers at the Kilkis Hospital and at most of the hospitals and
health centers in Greece are not paid on time and some of them see their
salaries being cut down to practically zero. A fellow-worker of mine
was transferred to our cardiological clinic almost in shock, when he
realized that instead of receiving the usual check of 800 euros (yes,
that is his monthly salary) from the state, he received a note saying
that not only he will be paid nothing for this month, but he is also has
the obligation to return 170 euros! Other workers were paid only 9
(nine) or 4 euros and even less for this month! Those of us who still
receive some kind of a salary will support them in any way we can.
This is a war against the people, against the whole community. Those
who say that the public debt of Greece is the debt of the Greek people
are lying. It is not the people’s debt. It was created by the
governments in collaboration with the bankers in order to enslave
people.

The loans to Greece are not used for salaries, pensions and public
care. It is exactly the opposite: salaries, pensions and care are used
to pay the bankers. They are lying. Contrary to what they declare, they
do not want a debt-free society.
They create the debts themselves (with the help of corrupt
governments and politicians) for their own benefit. They gave Greece a
banker as prime minister to ensure that the “job” will be done properly.
Our Prime Minister Loukas Papadimos was not elected at all. He was
appointed by the ECB and the bankers with the help of European and Greek
corrupt politicians. This is their interpretation of the term
“democracy”!

Hospital-ocupado

The debts are created by bankers who create money out of thin air and
collect interest, just because our governments gave them the right to
do so. And they keep saying that for those debts it is you and me and
our children and grandchildren that will have to pay with our personal
and national assets, with our lives. We do not owe them anything. On the
contrary, they owe the people a great part of the fortunes they made
thanks to the political corruption.
If we do not open our eyes to this truth, we will soon all become
slaves, working for 200 or less a month. That is those of us who will be
able to find a job!

No medical care, no pensions, homeless and starving, as now is the case
with my fellow citizens in Greece. Thousands of them live outdoors and
starve.

We have no intention to paint the reality with dark colors, but this
is the truth. This situation is not due to a financial or monetary
accident or mistake. It is the start of the ugly phase of a long process
following a carefully designed plan, a process that has started decades
ago! We have to fight together against this neoliberal plan. And this
is what we, in Kilkis and in so many cities around the world, do now.
For the time being, we are not considering the opening of a donations
account. We might, however need to do this in a few months or even
weeks, if the situation might be worse. What we currently need most of
all is moral support and publicity. Local struggles all around the world
have to spread and gain massive support if we are to win the war
against the corrupt system. If you can think of any additional ways to
spread our news and ideas, it would be great!

Again, we can’t thank you enough for your kind thoughts and words. This solidarity
of yours has a great meaning to us.
You can contact us at the following mail address:

enosi.kilkis@yahoo.gr
Yours

Leta Zotaki,

Director of the radiological department, of Kilkis Hospital

Member of the workers general assembly,

President of E.N.I.K. (Union of the Doctors of Greek National Health Care System in
Kilkis)

Posted in Greece, Occupy, Protest, Riot, Unemployment | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Beyond Hierarchies: A Free University Dayschool

Posted on 14/03/2012 by

Protest and Power in the 21st Century Beyond Hierarchies is a Free University Day School examining alternatives to the hierarchical power structures that shape society today. The day will incorporate short talks with interactive theatre and workshop discussion.

HOW DOES POWER WORK?

The first session will examine contemporary power relationships and how politicians came to believe that the only way was free market capitalism: with workshop discussion on different areas e.g. industry, society, politics, environment.

THIS IS NOT A RIOT.

In the second session we examine possible tactics and mechanisms of change with Harry Giles of Open Source Theatre  – click here for more info.

‘This is Not a Riot’ is a piece of interactive theatre about violence and protest, and was premièred in Hackney last year.

MUTUAL AID.

The third session looks ahead to the alternatives that we want to bring about. Does Public Ownership have to mean Nationalisation? Does Nationalisation have to mean Beaurocracy? Can Cooperatives and Collectives really work? Is Radical Decentralisation the antidote to Globalisation?

These questions and more will form the basis of workshop discussions followed by a final plenary.

Although the day school is free, numbers are limited, so to ensure your place, please book now by emailing dundeeuncut@gmail.com

The free day school is located here:

The Old Mill,
Taymills,
23 Brown Street,
DD1 5EF Dundee,
United Kingdom
Link to facebook event – click here.
Posted in Dundee Uncut, Education, Freeschool, Open Source Theatre, Protest, Riot, Social Event | Leave a comment

“Existence is Resistance” Talk – 1st March 2012

Posted on 26/02/2012 by

Occupation and the Environment in Palestine

The Aberdeen Branch of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign invites you to an evening with Fathe Kdirat & Itaf Njoum Karma.

They are in Aberdeen as part of a UK tour to talk about the Jordan Valley, one of the worst affected areas of the Occupied West Bank.

Also speaking will be Leehee Rothschild from Boycott from Within who talks about the resistance movement from within Israel and the Israel education system.

The evening’s events will take place in Room 268 at the MacRobert Building, University of Aberdeen (the large building by the King Street – St Machar Drive roundabout.)

The talks commence from 7pm.

For more on ASPSC click here: (facebook link)

Boycott from Within info? Click here:

A.V. article on Fathe Kdirat & Itaf Njoum Karma click here:

Posted in Enviroment, Israel, Palestine, Protest, Social Event, SPSC | Leave a comment

“Surveillance City Award” 2012 – We lose again!

Posted on 22/02/2012 by

Wondering around the Silver City of late, as you do, we have been taking note of some brand spanky new CCTV cameras. All over town. They are easy to spot as they have made no attempt to blend them in, hide them on buildings as is the norm. They seem to be an attempt by the police state to say “I’ve got a massive phallic thing and it’s eye is on you, sonny boy!”

Welcome to the Silver City!

They have even appeared in the posh bits of town, the end of town where they often say “what?” at the end of a sentence. Is this to identify any “feral scum” who might head up west should there be a riot? Or to identify the squeezed into rebellion “middle class floater voter” when they take to the streets?

It seems weird to us that in a time of massive cuts to local services there is money for new CCTV surveillance. Once again A.C.C have weird and strange priorities, baffling to the common personage’s like ourselves.

The cameras are kinds new to us also, they do remind one a bit of the ones from the V for Vendetta comic with weird aerials and what not.

They will be speaking to us next, telling us to remain clam, just you wait!

We already knew of the CCTV that tracks licence plates on cars which will identify any undesirables as they approach the city. Makes us glad we cycle everywhere.

Chums from London also said they have facial recognition down there and when you do a quick online search they now have ones that spot crimes automatically This of course allows the double whammy for the operating company of having less staff and more profit. It’s a real win, win situation..

A recent article in the local scandal rag highlighted that Aberdeen has 942 council run CCTV cameras now! More than the combined “coverage” of  Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. One lucky school up here has 51 CCTV units all to themselves. The area also has a 35% child poverty rate, we did wonder if there was any connection, but soon forgot about it due to a re-run of X-Factor being on.

It seems the city council have more cameras on the estates than anywhere else with only about 110 in town.

In the last four years Aberdeen City Council have spent  over a cool £1 million on CCTV and all councils in the UK have spent a happy total of £515 million on CCTV surveillance, clearly they see a link between poverty and crime.

What worries us at  A.A. HQ is the normalisation of the CCTV beasties. We don’t give them a second  glance as a rule but the new additions to Aberdeen’s overcrowded pavements did grab our attentions.  Crime rates have fallen but we have had an increase of police on the beat  so we cannot attribute it all to CCTV, so what the mad rush for more?

They may or may not have a  place and a use in 21st century Scotland but 51 of then at a secondary school seems a tad extreme, does it not? And we are sure that any new development in the city like the proposed City Garden  Project will introduce a good few more into our lives.

 

Although this will allow A.C.C to have a stab at the coveted “Surveillance City Award” which has replaced the dated “City in Bloom” competitions we all used to enjoy. The  current champions and  holders of the “Surveillance City Award”  are Leicester City Council with  mighty 2,083 CCTV cameras!

Which I hear is making our local leaders fume with paranoid jealous rages and mighty, mighty anger.

So, once again, the never seen  man, with the never seen plan, from Aberdeen City Council is off work.  Sick with stress induced stress thus allowing his paranoid voyeuristic minions  too run amok once more; Liberally scattering shiny new CCTV poles about the town in the vain hope of a national award they can plaster over all the “Welcome to Aberdeen” Signs along with “Drive careful now,  We are watching!”

report by The Dirty Hoof.

Blatantly pinched  photo from this website which we enjoy so click OTHER ABERDEEN and enjoy it also. We send our apologies, love and thanks.

Click here for more info from Big Brother Watch:

Click here for a handy schNEWS how to guide on CCTV cameras:

 

 

Posted in anarchism, Big Brother, CCTV, Dirty Hoof, Satire, Surveillance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Inverness Anarchist Film Festival

Posted on 22/02/2012 by

On Saturday February 11th in a small community space called the The Bike Shed just outside Inverness town centre, Inverness anarchist Federation put on an anarchist film festival, showing three documentary films – Anarchism in America, an Anarchist’s Story and The Pipe.

There was also space for a chat over sandwihches and homemade Vegan cake, as well as an array of literature to peruse both free and for sale courtesy of AK Press.

People from an assortment of campaigns and organisations came from all around – Aberdeen Anarchists were represented as was Glasgow Anarchist Federation. One committed soul even came as far away as Bradford.


Things kicked off just after 10am with Anarchism in America. Directed by Steven Fischler and Loel Sucher, Anarchism in America sets out to explode some of the myths surrounding anarchism, exploring some of the similarities between anarchism and the American conventions of liberty and individualism. It does so through a series of interviews with the great and good including Murray Bookchin and former Republican speech writer Karl Hess. It also describes some of the key events in American anarchist history such as the case of Sacco and Vanzetti.

We then had a  break for lunch and a some time to catch up with old friends and make some new.

The second film, an Anarchist’s Story tells the remarkable tale of Scot Ethel Macdonald who went to Spain to report on the civil war, first by mail and then later as a radio broadcaster for Barcelona’s anarchist radio, work which as well as assisting Spanish anarchists escape the authorities, landed her in hot water.

Ethel MacDonald broadcasting in Spain 1937

She was arrested and imprisoned, only to be released due to the intervention of British Labour politician Fenner Brockway.The “Bellshill Girl Anarchist” returned to her native Glasgow in November 1937 where she continued her political work, rallying support for the Spanish Resistance.

The final film The Pipe is a Film Four production about the controversial Corrib Gas Pipeline and the battle which ensues between Royal Dutch Shell, the Irish authorities and the local residents.

It describes the highs and lows of the Shell to Sea campaign, the conflicts with the Garda both on land and at sea and the imprisonment of the Rossport Five.

All in all it was a terrific day and a great start for Inverness Anarchist Federation.

Here’s to many more such events!

Report by [D.I]

Contact Inverness Anachist federation: inverness.af@gmail.com

Click here to buy Anarchism in America from AK Press.

Click here to watch an Anarchist’s Story.

Click here to watch a trailer of The Pipe.

 

Posted in anarchism, Enviroment, Ethel MacDonald, Inverness AF, Social Event, Spanish Civil War | Leave a comment

The Dirty Hoof…

Posted on 16/02/2012 by

Most regular readers of the Hoof probably think that the slave trade was abolished in 1833 when it became unprofitable for our corporate handlers. Why bother trudging all the way to Africa? It was far cheaper using the new urban poor; Especially, if you built slums right next door for them to live in or even better a slum town next to your factory where you can control EVERY aspect of their lives.

History Repeating

The debt crisis of 1719 saw the government of the time sell The South Sea Company half of the public debt for exclusive trading rights to the rich West Indies and for the profitable African slave trade. Not much seems to have changed government thinking since then, only the price and the management buzz words. The debt crisis of 2008 has seen them reintroduce the slave trade. HUZZAH! Although, it’s now called WORKFARE and is probably talked about as, “a dynamic public private partnership to synergise the reemployment of our indissoluble disengaged workforce”.

Benefactors from the slave trad…sorry, WONKFORCE really are in a win, win situation with unemployment so high they will have lots of slav…sorry, sorry WORKFARCE personnel to call on, ensuring that they keep unemployment high by not creating any jobs thus ensuring that they will have plenty of sla…again, sorry…WORKFART personnel ready to help out and engage in a meaningful way with their community once more.

“Who are the new slave masters?” I hear you ask. The new slave masters (Under the ever watchful eye of Iain Duncan Smith, the Secretary of State for Slavery, Community Destruction and Welfare Removal) are Jobcentres and private employment provider companies such as Serco and G4S who have placed over 20,000 people into the WORKFARE system since May 2011. The private employment provider companies such as Serco and G4S receive payment for each person they get back into WORKFARE so there is clearly a big incentive for them to get as much people through the WORKFARE system as possible.

So, vast corporations, not content with having lots of slaves in sweaty tax free work-zones around the world are getting in on the game back in the UK. TK Maxx, Wilkinson’s, Tesco, Primark, Matalan and many, many other major retailers are using unemployed people who are sent to work for them without pay, holidays, and pensions and with very little chance of permanent employment at the end of the scheme. City councils and hospitals always keen to follow the corporate model have also been getting involved. There can be no doubt about it slavery is a very good way to cut costs and maximise profits for shareholders.

 

The Private concerns – Holland & Barrett who have cut down on overtime for staff because workfare can fill the gaps –  Tesco  – HMV – one manager described their workfare worker as “our free person” – Catherine C Baxendale Tesco director is a private donator to the conservative party  – Matalan – “we are always grateful of the extra help, especially during busy times”  – – Bookers Wholesale  – Sainsbury’s  – Argos  – Maplin  – TK Maxx  – Primark  – Boots  – McDonald’s  – Burger King  – Arcadia group of clothes stores owned  Sir Philip Green, Government advisor and tax avoider  –  Superdrug.

The Charitees – Age Concern  – Barnados  – British Heart Foundation  – Cancer Research  – Capability Scotland – Gorgie City Farm – Marie Curie -PDSA -Saffron Acres Project – Salvation Army  – Shelter

The Public concerns – The Royal Mail – Newham Council  – Whittington Hospital – porters and receptionists  – Haringey Council – Who have decimated their parks staff and intend to “bridge the gap” with Community Payback and workfare placements  – Finsbury Park Business Forum – Wardens are deployed around stations in North London. In 2010, 800 paid station staff were made redundant across the Underground.

 

Whips in the Mind.

A spokesperson from Matalan said: “We obviously get people who want to work and we are always grateful of the extra help, especially during busy times.” The discount retailer added the placements gave participants a chance to “Try the job out to see if it’s the right career for them,” and that they gain “a wealth of valuable experience and get a chance to engage with their community. The best bit about it all of course is that we don’t need whips anymore, which might tire our arms out. We simply report them to a Jobcentre Plus for not working hard enough and they will remove all their benefits which will probably make them and their families destitute”

Matalan, which posted profits of £73 million in February 2011, said it did not know how many people have participated in its placements across the country as these are managed on a store-by-store, ship-by-ship basis but they were very much looking forward to the 500, 000 public sector employees about to become unemployed.

Other shocking examples of exploitation in the modern slave trade include two tradespersons tasked to build a new house which would have cost around £3000 for their labour. They received £67.50 per week each for the work, with the threat of having their benefits stopped if they chose not to do the work. So if you take an average 37 hour week you can work out the approximate hourly rate of £1.80!

When we called the Office of Slavery, Community Destruction and Welfare Removal at Westminster to challenge the legality of working below the minimum wage a senior Civil Servant told us “£1.80 and hour is probably far too much for the working class to earn, they will only go and spend their money on gin and dog fighting and other common pastimes. Anyway, they can always get their kids out working. Chimneys will always need sweeping.”

A former staff member at Newham Council, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the reaction of staff when they found out that one of their colleagues was only receiving benefits for her work:

“I went to [her] leaving do … We were all so sorry to see her go. She was an older lady and was one of the most hard-working and genuinely helpful admin staff we’d ever had. Worked her hours plus more and nothing was ever too much trouble for her. We honestly didn’t know why she was leaving after only six months. She’d worked a minimum of 37 hours per week (often more) and been the backbone of service delivery. The basic starting wage for that level is around £17,000 but for the work she was doing I would have expected her to be started at a few thousand more.

Yet all she was getting was JSA and the fares for her lengthy bus journeys, while people doing identical work were getting a salary, paid leave and pension contributions.

We were horrified.

Wrongly, we assumed this woman would be hired back as proper staff within days. The role was needed; she’d proven herself to be a fantastic worker, was well regarded and knew the systems. But no, the post was suddenly deemed no longer required and this lady never came back to us. She did exactly the same job as paid staff, yet didn’t get the same salary. This is illegal if the reason is age or race, but perfectly acceptable if someone has claimed a state benefit. It’s exploitation and it’s repellent.”

Newham Council has not responded to our repeated enquiries from the Dirty Hoof about its use of slaves but we were told that when the councillors return from their fact finding mission to Africa they would promptly ignore our request.

Our thanks, love, solidarity and apologies go to corporate Watch & Boycott Workfare for the background, links, information and interviews.

Please use the links for more information!

 www.corporatewatch.org

www.boycottworkfare.org

Posted in anarchism, Dirty Hoof, Gonzo, Satire, Unemployment, Workfare | 1 Comment

N30 Big Breakfast….Super GO Breakfast teams!

Posted on 23/01/2012 by

Supporting N30 picket lines.

Aberdeen Anarchists  & Aberdeen Against Austerity teamed up to visit as many picket lines as possible with hot tea and coffee, morning rowies, sandwiches and solidarity for the striking workers on N30.

We started early and visited our first picket lines at Aberdeen Royal
Infirmary, the Marine Lab and Kittybrewster Depot while other Super GO
Breakfast teams visited their local picket lines before our meet up at the town court house at 8am.

We spent the next few hours visiting as many picket lines as possible,
covering as many unions and places of work as we could. In total we
delivered breakfast for 22 picket lines where we were met with smiles and solidarity. People seemed really appreciative of our efforts which really made dragging our sorry bums out of bed at 6am very worthwhile. We even bumped into the Fire Brigade Union who were out doing the same.

We then met up with the Aberdeen Students currently in occupation at the university, to march with them down to the mass rally at the Castlegate(Aberdeen’s traditional place for agitation and rebellion.) It was fantastic to see the occupation going great guns and everyone working very well together. Anarchy in action, jazz hands and solidarity!

The turn out at the rally was very impressive, the biggest I’ve personally seen in Aberdeen since the poll tax days. There was a really good, noisy atmosphere with local speakers representing the unions, students and local community groups. The last speaker was a rep from Aberdeen Anarchists who gave the crowd a little giggle to keep them warm and to go home with.

The atmosphere in town is really positive just now which for Aberdeen is quite amazing. We have far too many people in the dirty oil trade, making too much money to ever get much support from the local press and the private sector. The N30 event has brought together good folks from the Unions, austerity groups, SWP, Anarchists, Students, pensioners and many others who are working together very well and who are determined to build on what we have done so far. We need to keep the solidarity going, stay active and visible and engage with other groups and the public as this is only the start.

Aberdeen Against Austerity and Aberdeen Anarchists would like to send
solidarity and big love to the all the good people from ATUC Council and Club, PCS, Unite, Unison, EIS, UCU, UCATT, GMB, ATL, RMT, SIPTU, CSP, Aspect, AEP, NAHT, AHDS, SWP, Occupy Aberdeen, Occupy Aberdeen University, Black Sheep Collective, everyone we met on the picket lines, anyone we have forgot to mention and to every single person in the UK who took action on N30.

Posted in anarchism, Anti Cuts, Protest, Trade Union, TUC | Leave a comment