Slave Labour?

[rathbonepostie]

not from Royal Mails POV, I meant from the Work Program POV.

Not sure how much choice they have

[wamdue]

I meant the company's providing the Work Program. TBH I suspect at this stage (im talking over all not just Royal Mail), it costing people real paid jobs.

[andy2007]

Yes you're right, it will cost jobs. And that's the problem, as RM will no doubt get the chance to offer people whatever shifts they want to. I've not heard or read anything which said that they won't be able to do that.

[dvbuk55]

The point being if there is room in the workplace for someone not being paid then that same vacancy exists for someone to be paid. RM already have a workforce working for nothing - all those who come in early ......for nothing, all those who work overtime but are too afraid to book it...............for nothing, part time employees on low hour contracts being brought in early but then having the overtime withdrawn ........for nothing.

We know we are in a recession but we are heading back to the victorian era in the workplace.

[fishtank]

I still actually can't get my head around the union's involvement and endorsement of this.
I keep expecting LTB Early April Fool...but it doesn't come.
How do those at the top think the members will feel when the rep is walking around the office introducing these guys to the workforce?
Take about rubbing in the salt.

[wamdue]

I feel I should explain my comments about night shift.

A few years back I was on a similar program as part of "New Deal", and placements were limited to 9 to 5 weekdays, since the provider had to have someone in the office when people were out of placement. It was not unheard of for people to do Saturday, but it was rare. Obviously this is not the case now.

As for the union, well its your union (as is my understanding of how unions work) I suggest you make your voices heard.

[dvbuk55]

I feel I should explain my comments about night shift.

A few years back I was on a similar program as part of "New Deal", and placements were limited to 9 to 5 weekdays, since the provider had to have someone in the office when people were out of placement. It was not unheard of for people to do Saturday, but it was rare. Obviously this is not the case now.

As for the union, well its your union (as is my understanding of how unions work) I suggest you make your voices heard.

Have our voices heard.......................... now that would be a novel experience.

[POSTMAN]

http://jobcentreplus.jobhits.co.uk/TESC ... -BSD-27442" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TESCO NIGHT SHIFT

Wage:JSA+EXPENSES
Hours:TBC
Location:EAST ANGLIA IP32
Duration:Permanent
Date posted:09 February 2012
Pension details:No details held

[wamdue]

honestly I almost cant believe its come to this, so quickly, jobs without wages, we have come along way from "Making Work Pay"

[dvbuk55]

honestly I almost cant believe its come to this, so quickly, jobs without wages, we have come along way from "Making Work Pay"

They may throw in a bag of peanuts now and again............................

[wamdue]

honestly I almost cant believe its come to this, so quickly, jobs without wages, we have come along way from "Making Work Pay"

They may throw in a bag of peanuts now and again............................

given the amount of people apparently allergic to nuts, that may not be a good idea.

[dvbuk55]

honestly I almost cant believe its come to this, so quickly, jobs without wages, we have come along way from "Making Work Pay"

They may throw in a bag of peanuts now and again............................

given the amount of people apparently allergic to nuts, that may not be a good idea.

There's plenty of nuts managing the organisation an' yet we're still standing.

[fishtank]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17084634" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tesco job advert protest closes store in Westminster

Police have been called after about 12 protesters forced the closure of a Tesco store opposite the Houses of Parliament.

They sat down or stood by the tills at the Tesco Express branch on Westminster Bridge Road, central London.

The demonstration is over a job advert which looked for permanent workers at a Suffolk store in exchange for expenses and jobseeker's allowance.

Tesco has amended the advert saying the mistake was due to an IT error.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said there had been no arrests.

The advert for a night-shift worker appeared on the Jobseekers' Plus website.

Guaranteed job interview
It was offered under the government's "sector-based work academy scheme" which is linked to the payment of benefits.

But the supermarket giant said the impression it was seeking to replace full-time workers was mistaken.

Tesco has explained that the advert was "a mistake caused by an IT error by Jobcentre Plus".

It was an advert for work experience with a guaranteed job interview at the end of it as part of a government-led work experience scheme

Slashing jobs
A spokesman for the Right to Work protesters said: "Tesco reports that over the past four months some 1,400 people have worked for them without pay.

Only 300 got a job with the company".

"The Tory government is slashing jobs and then punishing the jobless. And to add insult to injury, they are forcing people to work for free to boost profits for big business."

A spokesman for Tesco said: "No-one is under any obligation to take part in the scheme, and Jobcentre Plus has assured us that all of those who have come to Tesco have done so as volunteers."

He added: "We understand the concern that those who stay in the scheme longer than a week risk losing their benefits if they drop out before the end of their placement.

"We have suggested to the Department for Work and Pensions that, to avoid any misunderstanding about the voluntary nature of the scheme, this threat of losing benefit should be removed."

Minister for Employment Chris Grayling said: "Our work experience scheme is voluntary and thanks to companies like Tesco and many others has provided a route for literally thousands of young people to find their first job.

"The idea that providing work experience for unemployed young people is some kind of forced labour is utterly and completely absurd."

[dvbuk55]

Well he's saying it is only for young people but I am sure there was no distinction when the scheme was advertised. In fact there is a requisite for terminally ill people to take on these schemes if they will be living longer than 6 months, unless I read the story in the Mirror wrong. I remember the YOPs scheme, and my son went on a scheme of some sort some years ago - which began with a W but I can't remember the name. They seem to wheel this crap out every time there is an employment crisis just to massage the figures.

[TrueBlueTerrier]