The Unemployment Movement would like to add its name to the list condemning the BBC for its continued portrayal of those on Benefits as lazy, of low intelligence and even lower morals in a propaganda war instigated and kept alive by the government.
This letter was printed in the Guardian on Saturday 29th October is re-printed here in full. The Unemployment Movement has no connection with and does not endorse any of the groups or individual mentioned, but stands whole heartedly behind the Unemployed of the United Kingdom and those that would assist in their defence.
BBC accused of anti-welfare stance
We are outraged that the BBC is joining the propaganda war aimed at destroying the welfare state, Britain's most civilised and civilising legacy (Last night's TV, G2, 28 October). In the 1940s, after years of depression and slaughter, working-class people who had sacrificed so much felt entitled to a life without the constant threat of war and poverty. Family allowance, income support, unemployment and housing benefits, disability benefits, a state pension, the NHS and free education have assumed that everyone contributed and deserved to be looked after "from the cradle to the grave".
Entitlement fostered not only dignity and respect, but decent wages and working conditions for those in work. Since 1979, Thatcher's love for the free market and her hatred for "the culture of entitlement" has determined social policy. We are now all expected to chase non-existent jobs or work for our benefits, i.e. £1.63 an hour; sick and disabled people are found "fit for work" even despite terminal illnesses; older people have had their pensions postponed because living "too long" is a crisis; the vital work of mothers and other carers is disregarded and dismissed. The minimum wage is bypassed and we all stand to lose. Why should corporations pay a living wage if they can get claimants and prisoners to work without one?
We are expected to compete with Chinese workers, 600,000 of whom drop dead from overwork every year. Is that what we should aspire to? The Chinese, like the rest of us, are demanding better wages and working conditions – and the welfare state is part of that. Haven't they noticed people are getting together internationally to raise everyone's standards, not to lower them? The fight is on for the society Thatcher said did not exist.
Selma James Global Women's Strike
John McDonnell, MP
Mark Serwotka General secretary, PCS
Bob Crow General secretary, RMT
Nina López Legal Action for Women
Kim Sparrow Single Mothers' Self-Defence
Claire Glasman WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities)
Marie Lynam Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group
Prof Peter Beresford Chair, Shaping Our Lives
Noel Lynch Chair, London Green Party
Dave Skull Mad Pride
Johnny Void Benefit Claimants Fightback
Sam Weinstein Member of Utility Workers Union of America
Alan Wheatley Green Party Trade Union Group
Joanna Long Boycott Workfare
Anne-Marie O'Reilly London Coalition Against Poverty
• Today's announcement that pay for the directors of the UK's top businesses rose by 49% over the past year (Directors' bonanza, 28 October) comes at the same time as students have been attacked with soaring fees, public services have been axed and millions are struggling to find employment, showing once again we are not "all in this together". We believe the protesters occupying outside St Paul's, Finsbury Square and across the country are speaking up for the 99% suffering under a viciously right-wing Tory government which allows the top 1% to exploit and impoverish the rest of society. It is clear the majority of society would prefer jobs, education and healthcare instead of the Tories' cuts, privatisation and banker bonuses. We support the occupiers' right to protest and reject calls from the Tories to use the police against the occupiers making a stand for the majority of society.
Aaron Kiely NUS NEC and Student Broad Left
Vicki Baars NUS LGBT officer
Kanja Sesay NUS black students' officer
Sean Rillo Raczka Vice-president, University of London Union
Neelam Rose NUS black students' committee
Samaira Anjum National Black Students' Alliance and NUS BSC
Matt Bond NUS NEC Disabled Students' Campaign
Sam Coates and Ash Haynes Co-chairs, Young Greens
Calum Sherwood Co-chair, Bristol Labour Students
Stef Newton National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts LGBT Officer
Alex Peters-Day General secretary, LSE Students' Union
Arianna Tassinari Co-president, SOAS Students' Union
Shakira Akther University of East London Students' Union VP campaigns officer
Fiona Edwards Student Broad Left and Birkbeck College women's campaign
Rima Amin NUS black students' committee
Maev McDaid President, Liverpool University Guild of Students
Tom Johnson UEL Students' Union education officer
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