Leicester youth challenge Iain Duncan Smith

Iain Duncan Smith’s hopes for a discreet, unpublicised tour around the Jobcentre Plus on Wellington Street and the Pensions Centre on Yeoman Street were dashed on Friday 15th June as Leicester Youth Fight for Jobs learned of his visit and arranged a special greeting party.

Despite very limited notice of his arrival, Youth Fight for Jobs members produced leaflets, placards and a press release. Our efforts paid off as we managed to attract around 30 people to the protests all of whom were very eager to voice their frustrations at IDS.

Our chants such as ‘Iain Smith, hear us say, we won’t work if you won’t pay’ attracted the support of many passers-by, some of whom were going into the Jobcentre to face fresh disappointment at the unavailability of work. Many young people in Leicester were telling us of the demoralising process of applying for jobs and suffering repeated rejections. Whilst the Con-Dems prefer to accuse young people of laziness, YFJ understands that, in Leicester, there are 12 applicants for every job vacancy. The solution is not to blame young people but to demand a programme of massive job creation with paid apprenticeships with excellent training and prospects. This can be funded by challenging the big business tax avoiders and the speculators and corporations hoarding in excess of £731 billion instead of investing in infrastructure as they fear that the market will not guarantee a profitable return.

Upon his arrival to the Jobcentre, IDS drove past very quickly to avoid having to speak to us. He might be able to hide from us behind security but he cannot hide from the devastating effects of his cuts agenda forever. Only 10% of the intended cuts have been passed and they have had damning repercussions for young people desperate to find decent employment with many being forced onto the unfair Workfare scheme. Dan Fahey, member of Leicester YFJ, spoke on our megaphone of a recent report from the DWP stating that the Workfare scheme has ‘no impact on the likelihood of being employed’. So, not only is Workfare a way to force young people to work for free, it also has no long-term strategy to get young people into decent employment. Had IDS stopped to talk to us, perhaps he could have offered an explanation. I was able to talk on Radio Leicester where I stated that not only do the young people suffer in the Workfare scheme, but as do the pre-existing staff in the companies participating, as they suffer loss of contracted hours to make way for people on Workfare. YFJ recently played a leading role in forcing the government and many companies to pull out of the scheme. Despite that success, the scheme still lingers on. We call on young people to get involved with our campaigns to destroy completely Workfare and demand a decent for everyone.

We would like to thank the local anti-cuts group, Leicestershire Against the Cuts, for helping us to build this campaign to tell IDS, in no uncertain terms, that the people of Leicester will not tolerate any further cut backs to pay for a bankers’ financial crisis. We would also like to thank the civil servants union, PCS. Their members in the Pensions Centre and Jobcentre Plus were extremely supportive on the day. Indeed, our protest is not against them. They work extremely hard for which the government slashes their pay and conditions. YFJ learned that the unions were not permitted time to talk with IDS during his visit. Apparently, the man responsible for attacking the staff’s working conditions lacks the courage to address their grievances, face to face.

IDS might have hoped for a discreet visit to Leicester, but YFJ acted quickly and came with a clear message that young people will not become a lost generation. YFJ will continue to lobby the government against its destructive austerity programme and demand that ordinary people must not be punished for a bankers’ mess.

To get involved with Youth Fight for Jobs in Leicester, text ‘YFJ’ followed by your name to 07504991017

Dean Kavanagh

Leicester Youth Fight for Jobs