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this work programe is an insult into my already full cv.designed to fill the shittiest of the shitties of job vacancies.
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It is a big insult .
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This is the whole idea behind this farcical work program; to bully people into taking the scuzziest, shittiest jobs on the market under threat of having their benefits taken off them.
My JSA has been sanctioned for not going and now i get no money. I went in there this week and went to sign on and they asked why the job diary was not filled in? i said “no money, no diary!” they then said “you can’t come here if you don’t fill in a diary!” to which i replied “is that so! that’s strange because i used to work for JCP as a First Contact officer in a call center and when i got the job quite a few of my colleagues that started at the same time as me told me that when they signed on at their local JCP they were never asked to keep a diary at all!”
Anyway then she started arguing with me and one word lead to another and the manageress comes over and said to get out the place! so i did but i was so disgusted i went back as i reached the front door and threw the signing card at them and told them to stick it, i’ve had enough!
This is how you’re treated when you’ve worked for over 30 years, since you left school, including working in the civil service for over 15 years. They are not interested in individual cases and there is no empathy shown whatsoever to anyone.
They are also incompetent and the whole system is not fit for purpose. I got a letter telling me my benefit was getting sanctioned and i was to get no money, then i get another one from the same place telling me how much i was getting! they should be ashamed of themselves.
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i have been told im going on a work programme and i have to go to the initial interview on 13th, i dont know anything about it, and when i asked at the jobcentre for some info on it he said they had no info they couldnt tell me anything not even where its based.i received a letter on friday telling me i had to go wednesday 13th getting there involves getting 2 buses and a train and takes 1hour 15 mins if the buses and trains are on time. i really dont want to do this i dont even know how many hours a week i have to be there.is there anyone who knows any info on hours?
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Refuse it
http://www.refusewp.com/refuse-work-programme/refuse-work-programme-part-1.html
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I have an appointment at Jobcentre to discuss Work Programme. and fear that i will probably
be sanctioned for refusal to work for less than the minimum wage,
So I have just been reading through a letter I recieved about my benefits ( TAX CREDITS )
One of the pages gives me a break down of how much I get and for what reason.
At the top of the page it states in bold type ….
HOW MUCH THE LAW SAYS YOU NEED TO LIVE ON ….
If “THE LAW” states that i need “X ” pounds to live on, then Surely The act of sanctioning my benefits would be illegal.
Any Comments please ??
Cheezbob
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i would like to here more on this as i did not get my letter from my remploy adviser and was told i would get a 2 weeks sanction the thay booked me again it was in leeds i live in castleford i phone remploy and told them that i would not be able to get to leeds because you have sanctined my money the in jan this year 2012 i missed a appontment because i had no money to get there a i phoned and there was no awnser all that day so i phoned the day after and got in touch with remploy thay said my adviser was busy and she would get back to me in half hour no phone call tryed again she busy she will get back to you never did the no money in bank so phone again and thay said that i have been sanctioned for not going to appontment for 6 months housing benifit stoped school dinners my adviser made spelling errors in my cv and put the wrong address on it how is this fare and his there anything i can do
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After my interview I was told to attend a jobsearch session for 1 hour per week (Thursday 9 – 10 am). This is ‘until further notice’. The programme lasts for 2 years. At any time they may call you in to attend ‘training’ courses (Interview technique, CV-writing etc.). They also send your CV to employers advertising vacancies. You will also have to attend once a week to see your personal advisor. The venue will be a ‘provider’ such as I2I, TNG, A4Jobs etc…It is pretty much the same old same old. The difference now is the threat of sanctions. Hope this info helps you, Alison
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They cant send your cv around to any tom dick and harry if you dont give your written consent.There is a disclaimer on one of the providers forms which states that this is optional and your benefits will not be affected should you refuse to sign.
Hope this helps others who feel pressured by this crap idea.
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The Jobcentre in Bradford, West Yorkshire, is now giving everyone green signing on booklets, anyone signing on with these are having their details forwarded to a provider Called INGEUS(Fomerly known as Working Links), then you have to wait for a letter from Ingeus with your start date on.
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If you want to check them out their web address is: http://www.ingeus.co.uk
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I have checked out a few story’s on the internet regarding Working Links and Ingeus, it sounds like another waste of time and effort, just the same as the providers they had on the now defunked New Deal Programme.
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The problem is that providers are businesses and as such are profit motivated, not even bothered about the unemployed people that are sent to them.
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They don’t care because they have won a 7 year contract with the DWP, signed, sealed and delivered.
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DWP MP’s Gayling and Smith, hang your heads in shame.
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what amazes me is i was told at the work programme interview at the job centre.these people pre judge someone before they have met them. “forget new deal” in a dismissed voice.this “scheme” ran for thirteen years and in that time any criticism was immediately delt with by threats if not actions’.now this.
are these people naive they allowed this to continue knowing it was failing and costing.they will turncoat at the drop of the hat to the next paymaster called a culture change.
even the recent job centre strike which looked a solid turnout any mention of this by claimants brings hard looks.
much of this boils down to the continual statements designed for public consumption,the whole escapade is as hollow as a cave and portrayed in some media as one of the coalitions success stories when its achieved nothing.
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Yes, ken. JCP staff do not like “customers” mentioning that they were out on strike to defend, their pay, conditions and gold-plated pension whilst they are “mandating” a “customer” into slavery. The first move a JCP “customer” makes to defending their position the “customer” is called “aggressive” and thrown from the JCP premises by hired thugs and stitched up for a sanction. The boot cannot come to the other foot soon enough.
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I recently waled out of a training job place as the people were rude . I wasn`t told properly and exspected to be allowed to be shunted from one room to the next . I told them off and walked out
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That’s it bang on the button! You go to a Jobcentre you have to sit there with head bowed and listen to the crap they spout. When you ask them questions, when you put them on the spot or raise your voice you are told to get off the premises. Then you find a couple of days later that you get a letter telling you you’re banned from that JCP and you have to sign on in another one miles away!
That’s what happened to me. I argued with staff in there about 2 weeks ago about getting no money because i refused to attend the work program. They told me to get out, and a couple of days later i got a letter saying my file was being flagged with a PV marking(potentially violent). Not only that they also informed me they have informed all the local authorities about this and potentially this could be a thing that leads to discrimination against me down the line.
They then warned me that my behaviour would be monitored and if it didn’t improve they would extend the PV marking!
They also warned me if i did anything else that they would take “further action” against me.
Tell me how does this look to you? shameful? that a man who left school at 16 and has worked steadily for over 30 years, including 15+ years in the civil service, should be treated in such a shabby and downright horrible manner?
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Thankfully, when the current Government attained power, they cancelled the Flexible New Deal … frankly, New Deal Contract Providers (such as A4E and Working Links) were an absolute sham. The Advisers which candidates were assigned to, despite not being able to get jobs as Job Centre Plus Admin Clerks, otherwise awarded themselves the Baloneous title of Consultants. And, if candidates could not be coerced into doing Voluntary Work (the Clerks didn’t possess the competence needed to pick up a telephone to speak to an employer on behalf of the candidate with the view to arranging an interview), candidates were then dumped into a Classroom for 13 weeks (sharing the room with ex offenders, substance abusers, unemployed graduates and executives), treat with contempt and disdain, and had to sit whilst unqualified people tried to be teachers- when candidates were recruited to become Tutors, recruiters made it clear that candidates need not be Qualified Teachers, and need possess not Teaching Qualifications.
So, as much as I dislike the Work Programme, lets be grateful for small mercies.
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These providers are the same cretins with different trading names.Same agenda.
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Come back – the New Deal 13 week programme, Yvette Cooper all is forgiven, (as with the Labour govt.) as the new disgusting Work Programme is for 2 years, how many people are basically gonna be put on sanctions with this? well, anyone who even thinks of giving a negative comment to the advisors at Ingeus, will be sanctioned for non-compliance, THIS IS AGAINST YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS, don’t be taken in by this, you don’t complain to the Jobcentre as they have now passed responsibilty for you to Ingeus, you follow the Ingeus complaint’s procedure fully (which will get you no-where) and please use a recording device (covertly) to do this, then take the recording to your local MP, and the national and local newspapers – that’s the only way you will get a result.
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Obi, I’ve got a green one. You know if there is a colour code for mandatory work activity?
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Yvette Balls….. isn’t she married to a key advisor of Gordon “Mr Casino Banker” Brown, Ed Balls, the reason why the UK Economy is in such a mess now? So, lets not say “all is forgiven”, since she was part of the rabble which failed to constrain Mr Casino Banker when Labour were in power 1997-2010.
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An MP3 recorder is perfect. It can be taped to the wrist under a sleeve cuff. Or you can run a pair of headphoes from the mic socket on the recorder. Because it is an electromagnetic device, the headphone will act as a microphone. The signal you record will be a little shrill but clear all the same. There is no law against having earphones around your neck.
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How can they appy a sanction if you havent signed to agree to it,as long as you agree to participate work when requested etc they are legally stuffed by data protection take a look at this ,hope DWP Provider Guidance Chapter 5
1 0 V2.011
If you do not give consent, this will not affect your entitlement to participate in the programme, or any job offer or employment obtained. You can write to [Provider] at any time to withdraw your consent and this will not affect your placement on the programme or any employment or offer of employment made.
Participant name…………………………………………. (Please print name in full)
I give consent for [Provider], my future employer and DWP to share information as described in stages 1 to 3 above.
I confirm that:
I have read the information above and understand why this information sharing is needed and how this information will be used.
I understand that:
If I am in receipt of any benefits, my entitlement to these benefits will not depend on whether I choose to give consent or not.
My placement on any programme with [Provider] and any employment or future offer of employment will not depend on whether I choose to give consent or not.this helps others
DWP Provider Guidance Chapter 5
1 0 V2.011
If you do not give consent, this will not affect your entitlement to participate in the programme, or any job offer or employment obtained. You can write to [Provider] at any time to withdraw your consent and this will not affect your placement on the programme or any employment or offer of employment made.
Participant name…………………………………………. (Please print name in full)
I give consent for [Provider], my future employer and DWP to share information as described in stages 1 to 3 above.
I confirm that:
I have read the information above and understand why this information sharing is needed and how this information will be used.
I understand that:
If I am in receipt of any benefits, my entitlement to these benefits will not depend on whether I choose to give consent or not.
My placement on any programme with [Provider] and any employment or future offer of employment will not depend on whether I choose to give consent or not.
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Article 3: Inhuman treatment
No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 4: Slavery
(1) No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
(2) No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
(3) For the purpose of this Article the term “forced or compulsory labour” shall not include:
(a) any work required to be done in the ordinary course of detention imposed in accordance to the provisions of Article 5 of this Convention or during conditional release from such detention;
(b) any service of a military character or, in the case of conscientious objectors in countries where they are recognised, service exacted instead of compulsory military service;
(c) any service exacted in case of an emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;
(d) any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations
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I’ve just been sent for this insane new programe, 30 hours a week for my JSA of £64 a week which is ………. £2.13 an hour. However I did a bit of research (including finding this website) and during my online travels I discovered that this whole system and any system that came before it (also most likelly any renamed, repackaged system that appears in the future is in direct violation of the geneva convention regarding forced labour
http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/cgi-lex/convde.pl?C029
happy reading
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The Geneva Convention prohibits uncompensated or abusive forced labour in times of war. It’s not about the threat of having JSA cut from £65 to the sanction rate. You are in theory entirely free not to do the work. I don’t think you do your cause any favours by comparing yourself with a prisoner of war.
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the “charity” tomorrows people is now a registered training provider on the work programme raking in tons of cash from the dwp. as their website proudly proclaims we help the underpriviledged and vulnerable .how ? by sanctioning them for not turning up for these waste of time training courses .what a caring charity they are
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Hi Guys,
I’m seeing my advisor at Ingeus next Monday (25 July). I have an interview for a job on Friday this week, so hopefully I won’t be requiring their ‘Services’…If I attend I will note down and be presenting any evidence to our family friend who is an ex Liberal MP and now a Peer. I have confidence in his influence. Will keep you posted. Stay strong and don’t let the bu**ers get you down..
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Gosh ! i was given a year review (throughout the year I’ve sought help yet each time flipping tutors never turned up)by the work programme advisor in readyness for the Work programme .The whole thing was a farce as the advisor was manipulating the review at every twist and turn. Whilst asking me what I wanted as my job goals she asked me questions which clearly had a hidden agenda. As soon as she had completed the assessment, told me that she didn’t know which work programme provider I was going to, duly pressed a button – it was a bloody lottery funny really. Gosh she must of though I was stupid , she was using the information so that the work propgramme advisor at the other end would tell me to do care work. Very manipulative, after she had finished she then said all they need to do now is the diagnostic. Guess what ! the work programme diagnostic is prob tailor to her response lol. Must of though I was stupid! So entry to the work programme assessments are a bit d”’ge
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Any customer on the “work programme” can have any job of their choosing so long as it is care work.
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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE JOBSEEKER’S ALLOWANCE
(EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS AND ENTERPRISE SCHEME) REGULATIONS 2011
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/917/pdfs/uksiem_20110917_en.pdf
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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE JOBSEEKER’S ALLOWANCE
(EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS AND ENTERPRISE SCHEME) REGULATIONS 2011
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/917/pdfs/uksiem_20110917_en.pdf
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On the 20th July 2011, I received a letter from Ingeus (postmarked 19th July, conveniently the letter is not dated) telling me that my next appointment was on the 20th of July 2011. In all my history of getting letters for appointments (doctor’s, hospital, job interviews, job centre) I have never received such short notice. The Ingeus staff were unhelpful too when I phoned up to point out that that I would find it hard to make the appointment on time (due to the fact that I hadn’t been expecting to go out and would need time to get ready (including the fact that having eczema means I have to put special cream all over my body which takes about 25 minutes on average) and had a 40+ minute bus journey. What if I had been out and didn’t come home until later? Despite their initial refusal to see what the problem was, because it was a jobsearch day, they eventually agreed that I could come in a little later. But they were completely unreasonable for something that was their fault (and since it was just a jobsearch, why not tell me I could come in later or attempt to reschedule with me right from the get go?). Is it unreasonable to expect more than a few hours notice for your next appointment? Unreasonable and inconsiderate behaviour. Just when I thought I couldn’t get more distressed by how companies like this operate and treat the people sent to them.
Also the pressure to apply for a certain amount of jobs, send out a certain amount of letters or phone a certain number of employers within a short period of time (and far more than the jobcentre would expect from you in a longer period of time), even in low employment areas, just creates more stress. The more they raise their performance targets over time, the harder it gets to make them and you always have these sanctions hanging over your head.
I remember when there used to be at least training courses you could go on for six months or a year that might actually give you some training in a certain career. Now it’s just extreme versions of the old job club and the short term slave labour of work placements and more and more pressure put on you with no such benefit or value to the experience. Short term work placements don’t impress employers and it’s less likely many employers will create more vacancies when they have a steady stream of free work placements coming in (with some companies or even small shops having several at a time) instead.
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They have to give you 48 hours notice I think. That is 2 days (make no difference if you get your post at 8am or 5pm) from when you receive the letter, not when they send it… so obviously trying to trip you up.
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Thank you. Yes, I think it was either the Ingeus advisor flexing her own muscles and showing contempt for the sake of it or else she was covering up for the fact that she herself left it too long before sending out the letter or arranging the appointments. It feels even worse to me that I just started back at Ingeus and had only had one appointment under my belt and already the advisor thinks nothing of such inconsideration. Since most letters I receive from Ingeus have dates on them, I think the fact that that particular letter had no date on it speaks volumes that she was trying to cover her own tracks against any complaint.
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I having just finished my 13 week New Deal my Job center have now past me onto igeus. i was under the impression that i would get a few months break (18 month) from all this leftish crap! improbably better off signing off and going and living in the woods again! at least their i had self respect!
Cant these people see whilst immigration is as it is plus the 14% of people living in the UK were not born here (government figures so that probably another lie) unemployment can only go up at a rapid rate!
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I was no fan of the Labour government, but it’s Conservative and their rightish crap that made the changes that put you right back onto a work programme right away. It happened to me too. I finished a year with Ingeus on February of this year and am back with them just a few months later. That’s because the Conservative changes ignore anything prior to their new system coming into effect. In the past there was at least a year’s break between these mandatory programmes, but the current government have created a loophole that tramples over even that small bit of consideration or fair play. Each government just seems to want to come in and make changes for the sake of it, often making it worse for those of us who have to go through it. I miss the year long training course options of my younger days when you might actually have learned something, rather than just these rinse and repeat jobsearch/mock interview/three hour workshop/work placement/advisor increasing the amount of jobs they want you to apply for this week approaches.
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I have just been put onto this Work Programme thing – is this correct what I read above that it is a two-year thing? What is the reason one is selected for this? Does this amend the ONS statistics of unemployment figures?
From the bits and pieces I have read about the Work Programme (Ingeus is the ‘partner’ in question in my case) it sounds like an absolute scam, but great for the companies like Ingeus making a tidy little bundle out of our situation.
There is a recession on. But the JCP pretend like it isn’t. April/May this year was dead quiet for vacancies, and hence I got a two-week sanction for ‘doubt about my looking for work’. There were not any suitable jobs to apply for during that period.
I would speculate that all these bogus sanctions are to pay for the useless partner agencies running the Work Programme.
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Same is about to happen to me in two weeks time, I have just finished a 13 week placement steaming clouths in a charity shop considering my last job was working with sheet metal and genral warehouse production.
I turned up at this course called prospects which was a complete waste of time and tax payers money. If I was not doing my placement I found myself sitting in a room looking at old newspapers and watching the clock for 9hours as there was no computers free to do a jobsearch or they were not working as they were dead slow.
There was no choice where you was placed while doing the course, If you said NO to you’re placement they would send you back and your claim will be effected. -Slavery
Im thinking about changing jobcenter to by myself more time to find a job. -ridiculous
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I went to the jobcenter to sign on friday to find I was sopposed to have a interview with a advisor about the so called work programme. I said to a advisor from my understanding all Im aware of is normal signing, They response was a letter was sent.
Funny thing is on there system it was sent out thursday, I sign on friday?!?! Its as if they did not want me not to turn up for it. Anyway its been three days and the letter still has not come to my door. -Wankers
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I’ve been sent to this work programme thing , but with a company called AVANTA. I missed my first appointment and my next appointment is in 2 days. I suffer from agrophobia meaning I have great difficulty goin outside. I know I’m not going to be able to attend my appointment in two days but I know I will get sanctioned if don’t. I am claiming income support for my illness and still have to do the work programme.
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Ring up Jobcentre and ask if you can do the interview over the phone.
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This goverment are braking human rights lawa “european human rights act article 4″ check this out.Would like to know why no lawyers have picked up on this and why the goverment are being allowed top plod on withthis pile of crap.?
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I have just completed a 3 month new deal and now been put immediately on the new LIB-CON! scam work plan. Human rights have been thrown in the bin bag finally. I’m still in shock as to the name of this 2 year work programme alone, wait for it folks as I unleash the saviour…. REHAB JOBFIT! This is not a joke, its actual exacting name can you believe. That’s right folks you are now officially classified and downtrodden even more so than thought humanly possible; to a a demented, ill zombie of a human. Simply because you became redundant from your job due to recession. And because of this unfortunate predicament BIG BROTHER Cameron and his lap dogs alike have decided that YOU! need Rehab! Rehabilitation into work, to make you Job Fit! I sure hope they will use electrodes and high voltage this time around so I can reminisce Jack Nicholson in ‘One flew over the cuckoos nest’ And enjoy the resolve that he did. Surely anything is better than patronising those that have became thrust into unforeseen circumstances ; Redundancy, or physical illness etc.. And how will they rehab you into a more intelligent being? They will take you back to childhood and make you play with pipe cleaners, straws, build paper houses and use ‘coloured’ crayons to embalm programmed repeated slogans such as ‘you too can find work! This BOOT CAMP work programme approach may have benefits in a TEXAS prison, bursting at the seams with rapists and murderers. Although they are likely to protest more than us. Did they copy there programme for UK roll-out?? I know there is much much more to this experiment of mass slavery and control of the poor, weak, unfortunate and to those of pure bad luck and timing. The work placement alone; desperately knocking on company doors as I type due to lack of placements – Is a breach of common law and THEY will be taken to court very soon and hopefully enjoy a taste of there own medicine through there own maddening system. It breaks the basic minimum wage law. 1.14 per hour in cases of people doing shift placements and weekends. Why did lib cons want to ban minimum wage! To help struggling business or to enable better control of future mass enslavement, work out how this will actually work, more job losses, continued lowering of wages, forced free labour for the Federation of England! Orwellian dreams bear fruit. Peace out.
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Defect to Eurasia if you can. Eurasia & Eastasia will soon gang-up on Oceania. The authorities will no longer proclaim us to be ‘..at war with Eurasia’ or maybe ..’Eurasia is our friend, Eastasia was always our enemy’. Soon, the whole world will be at war with Oceania & in this scenario we will rise against the bilge that is homoconsevativitus. Like Jack, we are all entitled to our personal insanity ! stay strong…
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