THE FIGHT 
AGAINST WORKFARE
Workfare-Discuss is a list for organizing welfare recipients and fighting workfare internationally To subscribe to the list, send subscribe workfare-discuss in the body of a message to majordomo@icomm.ca
Marginalized Worker's Action League
Vancouver, B.C. In early 1997 a group of Canadian unemployed, marginally employed, and students came to the conclusion that the jobs and income crisis facing thousands of Canadians was not of their own making. They formed the Marginalized Worker's Action League (M.W.A.L.) in order to provide a means of taking proactive measures to pressure all levels of government and business to drop their stance on blaming the victim.
Online protest against Ontario's "Prevention of Unionism" Act
POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights)
POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights) organizes workfare workers to win fair and equal treatment for people doing workfare in San Francisco. POWER was initiated in January 1997 as a project of the three-year old General Assistance Rights Union (GARU). GARU has since changed its name to POWER to incorporate Workfare Workers from other benefits programs. POWER is fighting to change workfare into a fair work program, a program which pays workers a prevailing wage for the work they perform and which provides a safety net for those who cannot.
1) The punitive stage of workfare, work houses, and work tests.
2) The welfare entitlement stage that gives people something to survive on, but still sees unemployment as temporary. Assistance usually inadequate and comes with demeaning means tests.
3) The highest stage of evolution, of simply giving people enough to live on and letting them do as they please with their own time. In different countries it is called Mincome, Citizen's income, Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI), and Basic Income.
The question is then how to stop the regression to workfare and engineer the progression to mincome? Many subjects touch on it, from Community Work against Institutionalised Poverty, to Labor and Civil Liberties Law, to the techniques and aims of Public Opinion Polling. It is a moderated list, but no submission will be refused unless it is clearly out in orbit.
This is no longer a list for people who have nothing better to do with their time and who want to have pointless debates. It is for serious anti-poverty activists who want to exchange useful information and experience about how to effectively combat workfare in their own communities, and to turn it into adequate incomes for all people.
The list is fairly international, with eight countries represented, but the bulk of subscribers presently are in Ontario, Canada.
Try this list out. Unsubbing is even easier that subbing.
To subscribe go to
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/Workfare-Mincome
or e-mail the moderator at
Stories on poverty, anti poverty activism in Edmonton Alberta.
Poverty data for Canada misleading says
Mel Hurtig The document the writer relied on is based on a U.S. government definition of
poverty that has long been widely discredited Only six per cent of Canadians are living in poverty, less than half the
proportion in the U.S. and only one-third the percentage claimed by social
groups here, a United Nations study has found.
In fact, Canada has the second-lowest poverty level among the major
industrial countries and about half the level in most of the other G-7
countries, according to a 600-page report on labour markets and social
conditions in countries around the world by the International Labour
Organization.
Readers, book retailers and coffee shops were the latest targets
of anti-poverty activists when about 60 demonstrators for the
homeless marched through Toronto's annual book street
festival yesterday.
One protester was arrested and another slapped with a $105
ticket for littering after the demonstrators forced their way into
the McDonald's and Lettieri's at Queen St. East at Spadina.
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty member Sarah Vance said
McDonald's refuses to serve squeegee kids even when they
have money.
Young moms should take a
LEAP off welfare The Ottawa Citizen
Hundreds of teenaged mothers on welfare in this community could benefit
from a new program announced by the Ontario government this week.
So much of the Conservatives' approach to welfare has been negative. Cut
benefits, get them working, send them into the fields to pick crops. Yet their
LEAP initiative, the Learning, Earning and Parenting Program, is largely
positive. While it compels teens to go back to school, its main focus is on
helping them by providing supports, such as child care for their little ones. It
also provides parenting courses and small bursaries for postsecondary
education.
What's good for farmers is good for welfare
cases: Harris f picking fruits, vegetables and tobacco is good
enough for Ontario's hardworking farmers, it ought to be good enough for its
welfare recipients, says Premier Mike Harris.
No job is inappropriate for the province's controversial workfare program if
it helps those on social assistance develop self-esteem and a sense of
accomplishment, Harris said Tuesday.
Attorney general promises crackdown on
aggressive beggars Conservative government legislation to crack
down on squeegee kids and other aggressive beggars will be introduced this
fall, Ontario's attorney general said Wednesday.
Program for teenaged mothers short on day
care funding, say critics Teenage mothers on welfare in Ontario will be
forced to leave their children in cheap, unregulated day care under a new
policy that requires the mothers to attend school or lose their benefits, critics
said Monday.
The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care says the tight-fisted
Conservative government is providing less than half the money necessary to
provide safe, useful day care for the offspring of youths on welfare.
"It's $1,000 a month for regulated day care," says Mary-Anne Bedard, a
spokeswoman for the coalition.
"So, if you're looking at a 10-month school year, you're looking at $10,000.
That's double what this government is making available."
Ontario Report recommends more child care money
for workfare program
Education key to getting teen parents off welfare: Baird launches first LEAP program in
Ontario
This is an important announcement directed at all those who want to stop
workfare.
On Monday, June 7, 1999 the Low Income Needs Coalition won interim
benefits for Kingston resident Wayne Coppin after a direct action
protest at the welfare office. Wayne had his welfare benefits cut off
because of his principled opposition to the workfare system.
After a "polite" protest on Tuesday, June 1st by a broad group of social,
political, and labour activists at the Social Services office in
Kingston did not get a commitment from them to reinstate Wayne's benefits,
the activits vowed to not take no for an answer and returned yesterday.
Wayne's vistory is an important one for direct action organizing in
Kingston. Poor people are standing up together, because they've found that
being polite gets nowhere in Mike Harris's Ontario.
BACKGROUND
When Wayne was asked to sign the Ontario Works "workfare" agreement last
month he said no. He did this even though he has been more than compliant
with all the requirements of the program -- job searching, community
participation, etc.
Why didn't Wayne sign?
Wayne felt that to sign the form was a compromise of his strongly
held moral and spiritual convictions. He believes that workfare is a
coercive program akin to slavery, and that to force him into it is illegal
under UN and Canadian Human Rights law.
What happened:
When Wayne refused to sign the form he was told that his benefits were
going to be cut off. This left him with two choices: compromise his
beliefs or starve.
Wayne refused to compromise his beliefs and has since filed an appeal to
the Social Services tribunal. As a result of LINC's actions, Wayne will
now receive interim benefits pending his appeal.
This does not mean the fight is over. If you want to help Wayne,
contact the Low Income Needs Coalition at 613-544-7273, and information
will be passed along to Wayne himself.
Get involved. United we stand, divided we fall.
Veronica Wylie
FCM LAUNCHES THE 'QUALITY OF LIFE REPORTING SYSTEM'
A CANADIAN FIRST! The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) today launched the Quality of Life
Reporting System, marking the first time that a nationally consistent collection of local data on social policy indicators has
occurred.
The goal of FCM in launching the Quality of Life (QOL) project is to develop a compelling picture of quality of life in Canadian
communities and to identify trends and issues that might escape traditional measures of public policy outcomes. It consists of a
set of eight indicators that amount to a report card on the quality of life in urban Canada. Each indicator is supported by a
substantial database of quality of life measurements.
Benchmarks to evaluate quality of life in
Canada Social problems such as poverty and a lack of
affordable housing are growing in urban centres, says a study by the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The preliminary findings, part of a new system to evaluate the quality of life
in communities across the country, suggests that while the middle class got
richer, people in the lowest income brackets got poorer.
Young families are faced with the difficult challenges of low incomes,
expensive housing and crime, the study adds.
Canadian quality of life in decline'
CYBERSPACE - A report suggesting there's been a
deterioration in the quality of life in Canadian cities is to be
released Tuesday on the Web.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is launching its
new national quality of life reporting system from its website.
Canadian Families Have a Social Bottom Line, New Study
Shows Canadian families have a social bottom line, says
a new study released today by Canadian Policy Research Networks.
Labour Market Changes and Family Transactions reports that all
families try to balance economic and social goals in an effort to
achieve their social bottom line. The study also shows that
temporary or contract work can lead to a high degree of
vulnerability for the whole family.
Welfare better than work, study claims Government policies that encourage the poor to
work instead of drawing welfare aren't the best method of
improving the lives of poor families, claims a new study.
"Finding any job may not make you better off," said Judith
Maxwell of Canadian Policy Research Networks.
Maxwell told CBC News the study shows that families whose
parents take a job just to get off social assistance tend not to
cope as well as parents receiving social assistance. Parents
receiving assistance often have an opportunity to improve
their education or training which not only helps them get a
better job but create a better home environment for their
children.
The non-profit group's research report has been released as
federal and provincial social services ministers meet in
Quebec Friday to get a progress report on the national child
benefit.
School now mandatory for teen
welfare moms in Ontario
PARKLAND SPRING FOURM 1999:
Poverty Amidst Plenty
A public policy forum on growing poverty and disparity in Alberta.
March 4 to 6, 1999
Timms Centre for the Arts and Tory Lecture Theatres, University of Alberta, Edmonton
Alberta rich in wealth, poor in
spirit, says economist Albertans are rich in wealth but poor in spirit, says the
author of a recent study on economic inequities in Canada.
Armine Yalnizyan, an economist who studied gaps between the rich and the poor,
found Alberta had the fastest growing income gap in the nation and an unrivalled
dog-eat-dog mentality.
Welfare-to-work programs cause for concern
Uneven welfare programs leave
some worse off: study
By Government Move To Prevent Workfare Workers From Joining Unions
Send PremIer Mike Harris a Protest Letter about Workfare as 'forced labour'
"31. The Committee notes that Bill 22, entitled "An Act to Prevent
Unionization", was adopted by the Ontario Legislative Assembly on 24
November 1998. The Act denies to workfare participants the rights to join
a trade union, to bargain collectively and to strike. In response to a
request from the Committee, the Government provided no information in
relation to the compatibility of the Act with the Covenant. The Committee
considers the Act to be a clear violation of article 8 of the Covenant and
calls upon the State Party to take measures to repeal the offending
provisions."
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(R)EDMONTON
A higher minimum wage isn't likely to reduce the
already high number of working poor in Alberta who use food banks -- and
some of them don't need the help anyway, says the province's human
resources minister.
"I think there are people using food banks because it's a service that's
become available," Clint Dunford said Thursday.
His remarks come two days after a national report showed Alberta has the
Canada's highest percentage of working poor who use food banks.
"I think there are people who can afford food who are going to food
banks," Dunford said.
Roughly 800,000 Canadians - more than the population of New Brunswick - rely on food banks, a new
survey suggests. The Canadian Association of Food Banks, which released its survey Tuesday, said demand on food banks is
up at least five per cent over last year, and has more than doubled over the last decade.
A ruling that allows developers in Toronto to demolish
rental units will threaten low-cost housing across Ontario unless the province
steps in, says NDP housing critic Marilyn Churley.
Art Smith, former chairman of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, predicts homeless
numbers could double by next December and warns of a potential crisis. Mayor Al Duerr,
who has toiled on behalf of the homeless, has been meeting with local groups to find
solutions.
Let's hope Edmonton and Ottawa are listening.
After all, many of the homeless might not be on the streets if mental health and community
support services hadn't been slashed.
Although it frames the question more subtly than this, Ottawa wants our opinion:
Would extending the child tax credit to the middle classes buy off complaints
that tax policy is biased against parents?
To find out, leaky officials have let it be known the idea will be part of next
month's speech from the throne. With an unfamiliar and rather unsettling sense of
responsibility, we Canadians must carefully consider our answer.
Activists take aim at book festival
One man arrested after Queen St. anti-poverty protest
Ontario teens forced to go to school
or lose welfare
POVERTY AMIDST PLENTY
Canadian Policy Research Networks today released
The Assets of Canadian Families, a national profile of family
service clients. Family Service Canada undertook the survey with
its member agencies to identify clients' strengths and assets
including family, friends and community.
"When families need help, effective interventions build on the
assets people already use daily and in times of unusual stress"
says Margaret Fietz, CEO of Family Service Canada, a non-profit
national, voluntary organization which offers support to families,
and agencies serving families, across Canada and represents their
concerns.
According to the survey, clients often turn to family and friends,
as well as to professionals, for help in coping with their
problems. Families only access agencies once they have exhausted
informal supports and are truly in crisis. The most common issues
identified by the 1,445 people surveyed were family relationships
and parenting, violence and abuse, health and disabilities. On
average, each client needed help with 4 personal issues. The
majority of clients said that the support they received from
family service agencies was "very helpful."
Joseph Michalski, a research associate with Canadian Policy
Research Networks, authored the final report. According to Dr.
Michalski, "we found that clients' incomes ($20,000 - 29,999) are
well below the Canadian average ($55,247), and that one-third had
received social assistance within the previous six months. Most
clients are well-educated, but they are less likely to be employed
full-time than the general population." Men, children, seniors
and visible minorities were less likely to use formal supports
than women. Agencies should develop strategies to reach these
groups more effectively. He recommends more services tailored to
local needs and research on effective types of interventions
NEWS STORIES 1998
Steelworkers Say Public Should Be Alarmed
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights issued it's report on Canada's
compliance with the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights on Friday December 4, 1998.
The report indicates that Canada fails to comply with the
Covenant and cites the treatment of aboriginal peoples,
youth, the poor, the homeless and sole support mothers as
Canada's principle failures.
The Committee's final report, included below, is available
in it's official format from the United Nations at:
UN Report on Canada's Social Safety Net
Now it is official. The United Nations' Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights has marked the Harris government as a clear human rights
violator. Paragraph 31 of the Committee's "concluding observations" on
Canada's compliance with the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights refer to Ontario's Prevention of Unionism Act as "a clear violation
of article 8 of the Covenant..." and calls on the government "to take
measures to repeal the offending provisions."
The Progressive Conservative government pushed through the Act even though
The Society for the Promotion of Human Rights in Employment provided it
with documentation and commentary from international human rights experts
that the bill was offensive to international human rights norms and that
it reneged on Ontario's international obligations under the UN's Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The entire text of Paragraph 31 is enclosed below. Please consider sending
a fax to Janet Ecker the Minister of Social and Community Affairs (416 325
5221) asking her to comply immediately with the directive of the
Committee.
Roy J. Adams
Chair, Steering Committee
Society for the Promotion of Human Rights in Employment
