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NEWS Socialist Worker 1 April 2020
17

New benefit

claims soar

after bosses

savage jobs

Soaring claims for Universal Credit
have laid bare a cruel benefit
system, says Sadie Robinson

NEARLY HALF a million people BACK STORY
put in claims for Universal Credit
(UC) in a nine-day period as the Universal Credit (UC) claims
coronavirus crisis hit. have soared as jobs are slashed
The figure underlines how the lNearly half a million people
Tory pledge to pay 80 percent of claimed UC in just one nine-day
some workers’ wages is nowhere period last month
near enough to protect everyone.
Workers are being thrown out of lThe figures show how the Tory
jobs as restaurants, pubs, shops and pledge to pay 80 percent of
services close down. They now face some workers’ pay isn’t enough
a horrifying battle to claim benefits. lNow desperate people face an
Andrew from Luton got through impossible task of getting their
to the UC helpline on the third welfare claims processed
attempt after nearly three hours on lThere’s a risk that tens of BENEFIT CLAIMS have soared as bosses throw workers out of jobs during the coronavirus crisis
hold. thousands will be left without
“They’ve given me a date for a money or support for weeks No hand sanitiser, no distancing and
telephone interview in early April,”
he told Socialist Worker. “It’s ridicu-
lous because you fill in lots of things four days in the wa rehouse, coro- no protection---workers speak out
online, but then you have to make navirus strikes.”
this phone call. Andrew argued the system
“And all they do is make an should be urgently transformed.
appointment for another call. It’s “They need to make it easier BOSSES HAVE continued to put that their health is in danger,” he texted workers on Monday night to
just a barrier to put people off to claim benefits,” he said. “They workers at risk by pressuring said. say they did not have to come in.
claiming.” should take on a lot more staff. people to work during the Workers for delivery giant “But then on Tuesday morning
Some 477,000 claims for UC The amount of money is just £94 a coronavirus crisis. Amazon have also continued management said we have to come
were made between Monday of last week—it should be better than that. RMT union rep Paddy works on working in crowded warehouses. in,” Jeremy explained.
week and Wednesday. Tens of thou- “They also need to suspend all London Underground. Staff have said they have no “Because we were in half an
sands of people have been trapped the conditions that go with these “People are trying to distance hand sanitiser or reusable gloves. hour late, we weren’t entitled to a
in lengthy telephone or online benefits. They can’t seriously say themselves from customers, but Amazon owner Jeff Bezos is the lunch break.
queues. anyone should be looking for work that’s easier said than done,” he richest man on the planet. Yet he
Andrew explained that he at the moment.” told Socialist Worker. is touting an “Amazon relief fund” Tea
urgently needs benefits. “I’m living The Tories will have blood on He added that it was some time for working class people to donate “They said we had to work eight
with my parents who are both at their hands if they leave half a mil- before workers were given rubber to support Amazon staff. hours to get lunch off and would
high risk regarding coronavirus due lion people penniless with a lengthy gloves and hand gel. The government said that only have a 15 minute tea break.”
to their age,” he said. “I’m moving wait for meagre benefits. The Tories have criticised businesses deemed “non-essential” Meanwhile, Sir Philip Green’s
to a friend’s house and I’ll need to Activists, trade unionists and Transport for London for running should close. Arcadia Group—which includes
pay rent.” campaigners need to demand much a reduced service on London But call centre worker Jeremy brands such as Top shop—is
more far-reaching measures to keep Underground. told Socialist Worker that bosses keeping its online business open.
Insecure people safe and supported. But the real problem is the are trying to “find loopholes to Taj used to work at one of
The swathe of job losses as coro- “There could be a universal bosses who continue to call people flout the instructions” and “putting Arcadia’s warehouses in Solihull,
navirus bites has lifted a lid on the payment to everyone,” said Andrew. into workplaces and force them workers’ health at risk”. near Birmingham, until he was
awful working conditions faced by “That wouldn’t cost as much as onto busy trains and buses. Jeremy works at a logistics firm sacked on Friday 13 March.
so many people. Andrew got a First bailing out the banks in 2008. that delivers luxury furniture for “They are trying to consolidate
class degree last year. Yet he has “You hear about Universal Credit Survive Marks and Spencer and high end everything in Rugby where they
suffered months of working in inse- and think it’s not very nice. But you “The government says, ‘Don’t brands. can fit in all of the brands,” he told
cure, short-term jobs. don’t realise that you are not that travel to work,’ but if you survive “Management emailed all staff Socialist Worker.
“I’ve been to 13 different employ- far from b eing in quite a desperate on that work, it’s essential,” said stating that we are all key workers Taj now worries about finding
ment agencies, and only one gave position yourself. Paddy. and we are to continue to work as work or accessing support.
me any work,” he said. “The coronavirus crisis has He said transport workers are normal,” he said. “I’ve got two weeks’ pay for the
He was on the verge of a perma- exposed a very cruel system.” demanding that ticket machines “We’re not delivering PPE or last month and that’s the last of it,”
nent job when the virus hit. are shut and gates opened, to medical supplies to hospitals, we’re he said.
“The agency sent me to a ware- On other pages... reduce contact between workers delivering expensive furniture to Bosses haven’t stopped their
likely to be made permanent. After  Why talking tough on fat cat pay is and passengers. quite well off people.” attacks. Unions must not avoid
house as a temp,” he said. “They
“A walkout is possible if a red
And bosses have tried to squeeze fighting them.
said after 13 weeks everyone was
line is crossed, and workers believe more out of staff. Management
Paddy is a pseudonym
not enough >>Page 2