Disabled Workers, the Race to the Bottom

Guest Blog by Bill Scott, Manager, Inclusion Scotland

The proposed closure of Remploy factories quite rightly provoked outrage. Whatever anyone’s opinion might be of supported workplaces it is a fact that 85% of the disabled workers sacked during the last round of Remploy redundancies have yet to find work. That means that the vast majority of the Remploy workforce affected by the current round of closures are being condemned to a lifetime on the dole.

‘But don’t worry’, says the UK Government, ‘the money saved from closing the Remploy plants will be reinvested in Access to Work’. Forget the morality of stealing funding that supports one group of disabled workers to fund another group to keep their jobs and simply ask “Will this work?”.

Access to Work (AtW) funding is only available to disabled people starting or continuing employment. It is of no use to unemployed disabled people wanting to get qualifications or to volunteer. In addition the adaptations that AtW will fund have been severely restricted. What effect has that had on take-up?

There are 668,000 disabled people in Scotland aged between 16 and 64. In 2009/10 AtW supported 2,790 of them to keep or get employment at a cost of £6.4 million. So just 0.4% of Scots disabled people of working age received any AtW support.

The proportion of disabled people being assisted through AtW in Scotland is also way below the UK average. In the UK there were 35,820 disabled people assisted through AtW in 2010/2011. Proportionately that means 3,500 disabled people in Scotland should have been helped meaning AtW take-up in Scotland is about 20% lower than it should be.

The number of new customers being supported by AtW has also fallen dramatically. In the years 2008/9 and 2010/11 between 6,500 and 8,000 “new” disabled people were helped in the first 6 months of each year. But in the first 6 months of 2011/12 the figure for new customers helped had fallen to under 5,000. That’s around a 25% drop year-on-year. Far from AtW supporting more disabled people it’s actually supporting less. Instead of Government platitudes disabled people need real jobs and genuine support to access and keep them.

There has to be a Better Way...

For further information on AtW and its success, or otherwise, in supporting disabled workers in the workplace please access the AtW official statistics  available on the DWP website.

Bill Scott

Manager, Inclusion Scotland

For further information on the work of Inclusion Scotland please vist their website

 

SAVE the Equality and Human Rights Commission

PCS Members at the EHRC were on strike on the morning of Thursday 23rd February to protest about government cuts of 63% to its budget and 72% cut to staffing, compared to 2007 levels. This was followed up by a leafleting exercise on Tuesday13 March to seek further support from members of the public.

In Scotland, a properly resourced EHRC which maintains its core functions is necessary to address the equality agenda, given the very different political, legal and economic landscape. The proposed cuts would threaten high profile work in Scotland – such as the Disability Harassment Inquiry, Human Trafficking Inquiry, guidance to public bodies on their obligations under Equality Law and the EHRC hosting of Independent Living Scotland.

Their Scottish Helpline deals with over 5000 calls per annum from service users who feel they have been discriminated against; the largest proportion from Scots who have been subjected to disability discrimination. The Scottish Helpline also provides a UK wide service, taking tens of thousands of calls more on a UK wide basis. Many more Scots receive specialist advice in writing

The nature of the advice provided by the EHRC is highly technical; there is no other organisation with an equivalent level of experience and knowledge who can fill this gap and provide a similar quality and level of service. The cuts would also jeopardise the ‘transfer of expertise’ services and events ran by the casework team for other organisations advisors and employees, whilst Public Sector Equality Duty enforcement would be less vigorous.

The Commission losing its funding function is already leaving a gap in the finances of well respected organisations such as Govan Law Centre, Glasgow Disability Alliance, Equality Network and Central Scotland Racial Equality Council, to name just a handful. The effects of these cuts will be felt sharply by the most vulnerable sections of Scottish society. In addition the reductions in funding currently being experienced by charities and other 3rd sector organisations will create an equality and human rights advice desert in Scotland.

The STUC would urge all trade union members and the wider general public to show your support now by signing the No 10 petition to save the EHRC  to protect not only a valuable public service but also our human rights that are under constant attack by the coalition Government.

Ian Tasker
STUC

Songs for Social Justice: Gil Scott-Heron - A Message to the Messengers

Speaking ahead of the Songs for Social Justice Festival on Thursday, SweetS (Northern Xposure) said, “Music has always been at the heart of many civil rights movements and revolutions, and it also acts as a vehicle for different cultures and faiths to have some common ground. It is something that reaches so far into our very being and existence that it resonates with each and every one of us on a profound level, indeed even before we can say our A, B, C, D we find it is easier to communicate with a harmony or a bit of melody.  Therefore it is NRNXPO's mission to promote music for social justice in all form's and across all genre's.”

Rap and Hip Hop started out in the 1970’s as a way of communicating a social and political message while having a good time.

Gil Scott-Heron is often credited with being the Godfather of Rap, he was rapping to music by 1970, some time before Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa created Hip Hop as a means of bringing communities together, offering young people a route out of gangs and encouraging social harmony.

Gil Scott-Herons’ lyrics focussed on the social and political issues of the time. His music still resonates today and he can still find a new fan-base amongst young people. His 2010 album I’m New Here, was remixed by Jamie Smith of The XX and released in 2011 as We’re New Here.

It is difficult to choose just the one track from Scott-Heron’s extensive, educational and inspiring output, obvious choices would be The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, The Bottle or Johannesburg. However, today’s choice comes from his 1994 album Spirits. A Message to the Messengers calls on rappers, musicians and young people to remember their history and heritage and use this knowledge and understanding to promote positive social change.

Gil Scott-Heron - A Message to the Messengers

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: SOPA / PIPA Blackout Day Protest Songs

This blog was written by John Powles at the Alistair Hulett Memorial Trust. STUC Unions Into Schools and the Alistair Hulett Memorial Trust have worked in partnership on the Songs for Social Justice Festival. We would like to thank John for writing this blog.

On Wednesday 18th January 2012 many internet sites intentionally blacked out for the day in protest against the SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) legislation now being advanced in the USA. The day of protest has been judged a success by some of the major organisations involved. Wikipedia stated "More than 162 million people saw our message asking if you could imagine a world without free knowledge. You said no. You shut down Congress's switchboards. You melted their servers. From all around the world your messages dominated social media and the news. Millions of people have spoken in defence of a free and open internet." Meanwhile Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg urged people to protest saying "Tell your congressmen you want them to be pro-internet. We can't let poorly thought out laws get in the way of the internet's development. Facebook opposes Sopa and Pipa, and we will continue to oppose any laws that will hurt the internet."

Of course the internet with sites like YouTube, Facebook and the rest is a powerful tool for distributing activism against social injustice, including using songs as a vehicle for protests. Needless to say the SOPA / PIPA protests have led to the creating and posting of songs. The following examples demonstrate just how easy it can be to make protesting voices heard – no expensive equipment is required, no record industry moguls have to be grovelled to, no media pawns of government have to be persuaded – just do it and post it.

The first sample uses the age old method for creating a song of social justice – the adoption and adaption of an existing well known tune and lyric – in this case Don Maclean’s American Pie. Created by LaughPong, The Day The LOLcats Died - #SOPA #PIPA Protest Song [http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/17/the-day-the-lolcats-died/] includes some pertinent lyrics:

”Why, why are laws a thing you can buy? / They got paid off, should be laid off, re-election denied / Our web means more than lawyers, lobbies and lies / So speak up before the internet dies / Speak up before the internet dies”.

LaughPong - The Day The LOLcats Died

Finally in this brief selection Stop the SOPA Song is just a guy in his room with an acoustic guitar and some very clever lyrics:

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: The Projects – Anne is a Socialist

There are regular articles in the press which claim that there is no political music around that reflect the times in which we find ourselves. This just doesn’t play out, though it is obvious that there is a void of political song making the charts these days, the charts themselves are not the focal point they once were. Ways of promoting, accessing and distributing new music has changed dramatically in recent years. The internet has been the key factor in this stage in the evolution of music distribution and access.

The internet and social media has also played a role in the uprisings across the Middle East, in the anti-capitalist protest movements which are now galvanizing young people across the globe and in the democratisation of news dissemination. Activists around the world are blogging and organising from the comfort of their own armchair, they are also taking to the streets armed with a camera, a mobile phone and a laptop and then distributing their own first hand accounts of what they deem to be headline news to a global audience.

The video for ‘Anne is a Socialist’ captures footage of protests which we may recognise from our TVs and from citizen journalist postings on the internet, the footage is edited to provide an unflinching visual account of the song’s lyrics and music. The Project’s singer tells Anne’s story via a webcam. Combined, the audio-visuals act as a strong proponent of the protest movements and provide an angry portrayal of the power that the protestors are struggling against.

This contemporary political song is absolutely a reflection of the times; it is a song very much for this moment.

Sadly, Graeme Wilson the singer, lyricist and driving force behind The Projects passed away in December 2011. Ricky Maymi, guitarist with The Projects said “I think this [the Songs for Social Justice festival] is a great thing for his song to be a part of! I'm honoured to be a part of it!”


The Projects – Anne is a Socialist

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: Rev Hammer - Freeborn John: The Story of John Lilburne – The Leader of The Levellers

The Songs for Social Justice blogs have so far looked at individual songs on the subject of social justice, often stating that the bands have a canon of fitting material but offering a reason as to why that particular song has been chosen. Occasionally a great album is released with a common theme of social justice, but seldom does an artist release a biographical album about a historical figure.  In 1997, Rev Hammer released such an album.

The story is set during the English Civil War, with a particular focus on one of the main characters of that period – John Lilburne, the leader of The Levellers. John Lilburne struggled against tyranny in the pursuit of equality, fairness and the freedom of speech. The album is a biography set to music and lyrics and is based on Pauline Gregg’s biographical book ‘Freeborn John’. 

Rev Hammer worked with a number of artists on this album, with many taking on particular roles. Eddi Reader, The Levellers, Justin Sullivan and Maddy Prior all make appearances.

Rev Hammer - Freeborn John: The Story of John Lilburne – The Leader of The Levellers

The full album can be listened to here:

• http://www.youtube.com/user/levellinglilburne/videos

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: Michael Franti & Spearhead – I Know I’m Not Alone

Michael Franti is best known as a political activist and musician. His song ‘Television: The Drug of the Nation’, was widely hailed as a groundbreaking mix of political rap/rock. He originally recorded it in 1988 with his first group The Beatnigs and then re-recorded it with his next band The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. U2 brought the song to prominence by using it as the intro on their Zoo TV tour. In 1994 he formed a new band - Spearhead which had more of a soul and funk influence, while remaining political.

In 2004 Michael Franti decided to visit the Middle East to see with his own eyes, the human cost of war. He undertook the trip with a group of friends, a camera and his acoustic guitar. On returning to the USA he edited the footage into a film and encouraged fans to organise screenings in cinemas, in community halls and in their homes.

‘I Know I’m Not Alone’ is that award winning documentary, the filmmaking process resulted in the album ‘Yell Fire!’ which was also the soundtrack to the film. The title of the film is also the name of one of the tracks on the album.

Michael Franti & Spearhead – I Know I’m Not Alone (Song)

I Know I’m Not Alone (Full length film)

 

I Know I’m Not Alone (website, with lyrics and background info):

• http://www.iknowimnotalone.com

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: Patti Smith - People Have The Power

Today's blog has been written by Paul Simpson, singer and lyricist with The Wild Swans. We would like to thank Paul for his support throughout this project.

Perhaps if Robert Johnson had met Jesus, the Buddha or the prophet Muhammad at the Rosedale crossroads instead of the devil, optimism and positivity in the lyrics of rock songs wouldn’t now be considered quite so Sir Cliff-tastically uncool. Lennon’s caustic anger always trumped McCartney’s hokey nostalgia, than that’s just the way it is, but occasionally a rock song offers hope without making us cringe and such is the case with Patti Smith’s People Have The Power. Those four potent words are about as simple and direct and powerful a message as it’s possible to sing without sounding hopelessly naïve. There’s so much conviction in Patti’s delivery that by the time she reaches the pre-chorus refrain of  ‘The power to dream, to rule, to wrestle the world from fools, it's decreed the people rule’ she’s almost levitating with excitement because she knows she just seconds away from the chorus and absolute connection.

Universal truths can be an extremely effective weapon in song, just listen to Give Peace A Chance and All You Need Is Love. OK, the latter’s slightly naïve message was flawed but I suppose All You Need Is Love, Food and Shelter didn’t scan so well. People Have The Power seeks to inspire and fuel change, and what’s more, not just for the ‘stick-it-to-the-man’ hippy-dippy sake of it, but in a constructive, focussed, ‘we outnumber you, stand aside, we want out’ way.  

Ironically the William Blake inspired verses of this anti war song - all shepherds and soldiers sharing visions of peace beneath the stars, appeared shortly before the so-called ‘liberation of Kuwait’ and the Persian Gulf War. My favourite line of all in the song is ‘People have the power - to redeem the work of fools’.

For me Patti Smith’s simple message of optimism and the desire for change through union has never been more relevant than in these ill-governed times. 

Paul Simpson.

Patti Smith - People Have The Power

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: The Spatial AKA Orchestra – Ghost Planet

We can’t leave this song out. The updated classic by “General” Jerry Dammers, probably one of the most potent and poignant songs of the 1980’s and beyond, this version warns of a Ghost Planet, if we don’t address world issues. This band are an absolute treat to see live playing ska, funk, reggae and soul, I for one look forward to them cutting some vinyl in the studio.

(Terry Anderson STUC)

Jerry Dammers and The Spatial A.K.A. Orchestra
Ghost Town / Ghost Planet (Lyrics)

“This Town Is Coming Like A Ghost Town
All The Buildings Have Been Torn Down
This Place Is Coming Like A Drag Place
A Dead Place
Wipe The Smile From A Child's Face

This World Is Coming Like A Ghost Planet
On This Here Planet
If You Treat Man Like Mouse He Will Breed
Treat Man Like Fly And He Will Swarm


This World Is Coming Like A Rubbish Tip
It Coming Like A Cesspit
That's Feeding, Feeding On It's Own Vomit
Coming Like A Rubbish Dump
In Need Of A Stomach Pump

This Place Is Coming Like A Disgrace
A Child's Smile Turned Into A Ghost Place

This Place was a Back Stabbing Greedy Corrupt Place
What, What Is That, What Is That Sweet Sickly Smell
Is It Heaven, Turned Into Hell ?”

The Spatial AKA Orchestra – Ghost Planet

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: The Nightwatchman – The Road I Must Travel

Alongside fellow musician Serj Tankian, Tom Morello founded ‘Axis of Justice’ in 2002 to bring together musicians, music fans and grassroots organisations to fight for global social justice. Recently Morello has played short sets at Occupy camps across the USA and Europe

Tom Morello is best known for his work with the politically charged Rage Against the Machine. He also played guitar with Audioslave and is currently guitarist and lyricist with Street Sweeper Social Club and The Nightwatchman.

It is a difficult task to choose just one single track from across Morello’s industrious output of songs about social justice. This song is from The Nightwatchman’s early days when Morello used this moniker to record and play as a solo acoustic artist. ‘The Road I Must Travel’ has an excellent accompanying video in which Morello is surrounded by pictures of his inspirations, the footage also includes quotes from a number of those figures.

The Nightwatchman – The Road I Must Travel

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: The Clash – 1977

36 years ago, there was a revolution in pop music. The popular protest songs of the 1960’s had faded. Young people growing up in multi-cultural working class neighbourhoods found the problems of society cut across ethnicities, that the root causes of unemployment, poverty and lack of progress could not and should not be blamed on BME and migrant communities. The Queen’s Silver Jubilee loomed. A referendum on Scottish devolution was on the horizon. Glam Rock, Prog Rock and Showaddaywadday ruled the charts – the bands had nothing to say.

The music and charts changed dramatically when a bunch of teenagers from London decided to over-throw their older peers and create a new sound which was influenced by the rebellious socio-political messages found in reggae. The new music came to be known as punk. It rejected conforming to the class structures, its ethos was D.I.Y. and the records they listened to were British and Jamaican reggae.

The Clash was the most obvious band to have had reggae influences in their music and they are credited as having brought the political edge to punk. Their music and songs were a reflection of their times and personal experiences, their messages connected with young people.

The Clash are often cited as being inspirations to countless other musicians, they gave many bands their first opportunity to tour and play in front of large audiences. The Clash broke down the superficial barrier between band and audience. Their music was innovative and changed with each album. Their song ‘1977’ railed against unemployment, the lack of opportunities for young working class people and the Jubilee.

Disastrously, 1977 sounds as relevant today as it was 35 years ago.

The Clash – 1977

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100

Songs for Social Justice: The Impressions – We’re a winner

Any composition with Curtis Mayfield involved normally grabs the attention of all soul music lovers. Curtis Mayfield wrote this uplifting composition with lyrics to encourage the listener into action by accepting that the time for self-pity was over and that one should acknowledge his or her worth, even in the face of opposition. The song points people towards collective action as a self - improving and empowering route for both individuals and communities – it does this through amazing vocals from Curtis set at a gentle uplifting pace.

The Impressions – We’re a winner (ABC Records, 1967)

Songs for Social Justice Dance Night featuring guest DJ Jerry Dammers -

o      Thursday 26^th January

o      STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow

o      6.45pm – midnight

o      Tickets £8/£4 - Available direct from the STUC - 0141 337 8100