Wednesday 27 April 2011

National Day of Protest Against Welfare & Housing Benefit Cuts

by benefitclaimantsfightback

Disability activists, claimant groups and anti-cuts campaigners have called a week of action against poverty pimps Atos Origin beginning on Monday 9th May with a picnic and party in Triton Square*, home of their head office, at 2pm.

Both announced and unannounced protests are set to take place around the UK outside the offices and testing centres operated by Atos Origin.

Atos Origin have just begun a £300 million contract by the Con-dem Government to carry out ‘work capability assessments’ on all of those claiming Incapacity Benefit.

It is claimed assessments are to test what people can do rather than what they can’t. The real purpose is to strip benefits from as many people as possible.

This testing system has already led to people with terminal illnesses and severe medical conditions being declared fit for work and having benefits cut. GP’s are ignored in favour of decisions made by Atos Origin’s computer.

Plans announced for the scrapping of Disability Living Allowance have also revealed that this intrusive testing is likely to be extended to everyone on some form of disability or health related benefit.

To date around 40% of appeals against Atos Origin’s decisions have been successful.

On the 24th January and 14th April claimants from around the country demonstrated outside Atos Origins premises, with many choosing to close for the day rather than face their ‘clients’. We call on all groups around the UK to take action against these parasites who have been dubbed ‘the racial purity and euthanasia arm of the DWP’

Please join, share and invite friends to the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121624627914913

A list of Atos Origin’s corporate offices can be found at: http://www.uk.atosorigin.com/en-uk/about_us/locations/

Atos testing centres are listed at: http://www.atoshealthcarejobs.co.uk/locations.html

If you are holding an event, protest or action in your home town please add details on the wall below to have your event added to this page and the website. Alternatively contact us at: notowelfarecuts@yahoo.co.uk

Latest News:

Birmingham

Thursday, May 12 · 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Unison offices, 19th floor McClaren Tower, Priory Queensway. B4 7NN
Public Meeting: Benefit Cuts: Who are they targeting? How can we stop them? – called by DPAC and Right To Work

Then on Friday May 13th at noon outside Waterstones bookshop opposite bull statue in Bullring centre join them for leafleting and street theatre ‘ The Computer Says NO’ an adaptation of a Brighton Benefit Campaign play.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169640809755894

Manchester – Thursday, April 28 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Open Planning Meeting For Manchester Benefits Protest
Rapar Offices, Mount St, Manchester

Manchester Coalition Against Cuts will be holding an open planning meeting to discuss possible action against benefits cuts.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166706856720054

Liverpool – Picket Atos Origin

Monday, May 9 · 11:30am – 2:30pm

Atos Origin, The Plaza, Old Hall Street, Liverpool

As part of this week of action, Liverpool Solidarity Federation are calling for all those who stand in support of disabled people to join us in a picket of their offices in Liverpool the same day.

Assemble in The Plaza, Old Hall Street, at 11.30am on Monday 9th May. Bring flags, banners, and placards.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=160068340719677

London – Party and Protest in Triton Square

Monday, May 9 – 2pm

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194299250612882&

Plymouth

Monday, May 9 – 10am
Plymouth Claimants Union will be demonstrating outside the Atos Origin Argosy House , Marsh Mills , medical centre in Plymouth from 10.00 am Monday 9th May. Free transport from city centre.  Cntact plymouthclaimantsunion@yahoo.co.uk

Supported by:

Supported by:
o Armchair Army
o Anti-Benefit Cuts Glasgow
o Black Triangle Anti-Defamation Campaign
o Brighton Benefits Campaign
o Bristol & District Anti-Cuts Alliance (BADACA)
o Cardiff’s Unemployed Daytime Disco
o Carer Watch
o Claimants Fightback
o Crippen – Disabled Cartoonist
o Defend Glasgow Services Campaign
o Diary of a Benefit Scrounger
o Disabled People Against Cuts
o Dundee Unemployed Workers
o East Lancs Right to Work
o Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty (ECAP)
o Free London Listings
o Goldsmiths in Occupation
o Haringey Solidarity Group
o Ipswich Unemployed Action
o Islington Deaf and Disabled People Against Cuts
o Islington Hands Off Our Public Services (IHOOPS)
o Islington Poverty Action
o John McDonnell, MP
o Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group
o Lancaster and Morecambe Against the Cuts
o London Autistic Rights Movement
o Liverpool Solidarity Federation
o London Coalition Against Poverty (LCAP)
o London Foodbank
o Mad Pride
o Medway Against The Cuts
o Mental Health Resistance Network
o Milton Keynes Coalition of Resistance
o Norfolk Community Action Group
o Nottingham Claimants’ Union
o Nuneaton Against Benefit Cuts
o Nurses Against Atos
o Oxford Save Our Services
o Plymouth Claimants Union
o Right To Work Campaign
o Save Our Services in Reading
o Squattastic
o Social Work Action Network (SWAN)
o Torbay & District Anti-Cuts Alliance
o Tyne and Wear Coalition of Resistance
o Tyneside Claimants Union
o UNITE Scottish Housing Associations Branch
o Welfare Action Hackney
o Welfare Rights 4 u (UK)
o West Yorkshire Solidarity Federation
o Where’s the Benefit?
o Work Programme & Flexible New Deal Scandal
o World Homeless Day

Please contact us to be added to the list.

*Triton Square is on the North side of Euston Road, just over the road from Warren Street tube and less than five minutes from Euston/Euston Square or Great Portland Street tube stations.