Upcoming IWW Events!

Wednesday, 1 May
May Day Stalls
Noon until two, Buchanan Street near TFI Fridays, banner, flyers, merch. camaraderie
https://www.facebook.com/events/102693323258506/
(We have also been invited to the Anarchist Social from 7PM in the Scotia Bar)

Sunday, 5 May
May Day March and Rally
Assemble 11:30 am George Square, march off 12 noon; rally 02 Academy, Eglinton Street, organised by Glasgow Trades Union Congress
https://www.facebook.com/events/563174533716112/

Monday 6 May
Anti-Workfare Walk of Shame
Meet British Heart Foundation shop, 270 Sauchiehall Street, 12 noon, organised by the Crutch Collective, backed by Cydeside IWW, Glasgow Solidarity Federation, and Glasgow Anarchist Federation
https://www.facebook.com/events/187028154782756/?context=create

Friday 10 May
Presentation by IWW member and Glasgow Uni professor Ben Franks on his book ‘Between Anarchism and Marxism: the beginnings and ends of the schism’, Kinning Park Complex, discussion 6;30-8.30, social 8.30 onwards. Hosted by Glasgow Anarchist Federation, Clydeside IWW, Radical Independent Bookfair, and the Strickland Distribution
https://www.facebook.com/events/558999170798205/

Tuesday 14 May
Clydeside IWW monthly meeting
7 pm, Electron Club, 2nd floor CCA, Sauchiehall Street
https://www.facebook.com/events/308779775918655/

Wednesday 19 June
IWW Clydeside Public Meeting
7-9 pm, Glasgow Unitarians Meeting House, 72 Berkeley Street, Glasgow G3 7DS, evening of short videos, round table presentation, group discussion, refreshments, chance to tell the world what we stand for and what we do! (with plenty of membership applications forms on-hand)
https://www.facebook.com/events/179626955528011/

Between Anarchism and Marxism: the beginnings and ends of the schism

Friday 10th May.
Kinning Park Complex
Discussion 6.30-8.30. Social 8-30 onwards.

Author of ‘Rebel Alliances: The Means and Ends of Contemporary British Anarchisms’ (2006), Benjamin Franks will be present to discuss his recent work, ‘Between Anarchism and Marxism: the beginnings and ends of the schism’ (2012), followed by a group discussion.

“The standard approach, endorsed by orthodox Marxists and many anarchists, is to see an irreconcilable difference between anarchism and Marxism. However, the historical record shows that whilst Marx opposed – and was opposed by – leading anarchists prior to 1917 there was considerable positive interaction between diverse Marxist and anarchist groups. The division between the two, viewed as fundamental, I argue, is in fact the product of a particular form of political structure that dominated the revolutionary-left in the last century. Now that these hierarchical forms of organisation have been discredited, rediscovered and revised forms of Marxism have arisen that, once again, actively engage with anarchism”.

Refreshments available though feel free to BYOB!

Hosted by Glasgow Anarchist Federation, Clydeside IWW, Radical Independent Bookfair, and The Strickland Distribution.

Join the A4e Communications Blockade!

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

A4e is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Government welfare policy. In 2011 the company turnover was £180 million, 100% of which came from the public coffers. Out of this the bosses shared out £11 million between them. A4e have a catastrophic record of failing to meet even the paltry minimum targets set by the Department for Work and Pensions for finding people jobs on the workfare scheme, the Work Programme. You have more chance of finding a job without their bullying ‘back to work’ tactics. Not content with what amounts to the officially sanctioned scam of lucrative welfare to work contracts from their friends in Government there are numerous accusations of fraud against them, where records are apparently falsified, so that they can claim even more public money for not doing their job. They are further subsidised by the public by their use of mandatory unpaid labour within the company as well. The costs of Workfare are socialised while the profits are privatised.

We are asking everyone to make their voice heard once more. Contact A4e and complain about their involvement in Workfare.

The aim is to shut down their communications as much as possible in order to cause them disruption. They may not listen to individual complaints, but they will take notice when they can’t do their day-to-day activities for the sheer volume of complaints coming in! Be polite.

Email A4e: customerservices@a4e.co.uk
Head of Communications: kmccrory@a4e.co.uk
Media Relations Manager: jkerr@a4e.co.uk
Send secure email via: https://www.hushmail.com/

Fax A4e Head Office fax number: 0114 275 4632
Send free faxes via: http://www.freepopfax.com/
Many classic books are available as free PDFs online. Perhaps A4e would like to read them.

Phone A4e Customer Services Freephone Number: 0800 345 666
Twitter: @OfficialA4e
@AniaMendrek – Operations ManagerWebsite Complaints Form: http://mya4e.com/contact-us/complaints-form/

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This is part of Boycott Workfare’s Week Of Action, March 18th-24th:
https://www.facebook.com/boycottworkfare
http://www.boycottworkfare.org/

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Anti-Workfare Pickets 8 Dec Glasgow

11:00-11:50
Superdrug, 117 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3ER

Like many chain stores, Superdrug, who made a £20 million profit last year, have been given a massive public subsidy, in the form of unemployed people working for nothing but their benefits on a workfare scheme. Superdrug suspended their participation in the Government’s ‘Work Experience’ workfare scheme earlier in the year after Tesco was picketed and received a lot of bad publicity for using the same scheme, but Superdrug began using the scheme again from at least June.

This scheme is not only an attack on the unemployed, who are bullied on to the nominally voluntary scheme by Job Centre Plus, or are forced on to other workfare schemes for refusing to take part in ‘work experience’ that mostly involves stacking shelves for 30 hours a week for up to 8 weeks, and who face sanctions i.e. having their benefits cut in certain circumstances, while on the scheme. It is also a direct attack on Superdrug workers – replacing paid jobs, holiday pay & ending temporary posts.

Superdrug will no longer be taking on temporary staff to deal with the busy Christmas period. Rather than hire extra workers, Superdrug will be taking on more people on ‘Work Experience’ – workers Superdrug still don’t have to pay. Not only will this impact on those being exploited as unpaid labour, but on students & others who rely on holiday work.

The same number of people will be doing the same amount of work – but thanks to workfare, Superdrug can replace paid workers with unpaid ones. Once again, the lies of the government and businesses, claiming that workfare is a way to help people back into work, are exposed. The exact opposite is true – workfare is a job destruction scheme.

We call on Superdrug to end this exploitation and withdraw immediately from all workfare programmes. Any workers now working unpaid should be hired straight away.

The best way to end the iniquity of workfare is to directly affect the profits of the companies exploiting it. We have shown that it works – join us doing the same to Superdrug! Until Superdrug gives in, help us in fighting this attack on all workers’ terms and conditions.

The picket is part of a ‘Boycott Workfare’ National Day Of Action. They have information on other High Street stores that use workfare on their website:
http://www.boycottworkfare.org/

Claimants Resisting Unfair Treatment Cuts and Harassment: a group of benefit claimants and supporters in Glasgow:
http://thecrutchcollective.blogspot.com/

Supported by Clydeside Industrial Workers Of The World:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clydeside-IWW/216550781713688?fref=ts

The starting time of the Superdrug Workfare picket is 11 a.m. as some places online are saying that the Starbucks demo starts at 12 noon and some people want to go on to the Starbucks demo after the picket and the 2nd workfare picket!
http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions/941
http://www.facebook.com/events/512984508719380/
14:00 British Heart Foundation Furniture shop, Argyle Street.

IWW Lobby BMA for a London Living Wage for BMA Cleaners

IWW Lobby BMA Council for a London Living Wage for BMA House Cleaning Staff

There’s a petition “British Medical Association & Interserve PLC: Pay Your Cleaners the London Living Wage!” on Change.org.
Please sign here!