Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare

“@alexhern: I wrote a thing about Tesco's pressganging at @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/Hq8fQKf1”

Tesco made £1.9bn in disappointing half year.

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/cAL7Vmj3

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

I wrote a thing about Tesco's pressganging at @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/EdH6AIm2

Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/JbvoIZSp

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/JbvoIZSp

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/JbvoIZSp

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

#UK : Tesco ’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/nuOIXmz4

Another reason not to shop at Tesco RT @FalseEcon: Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour http://t.co/Rna9Qz1i

Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/JbvoIZSp

Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart… http://t.co/ZmaRVv0x #Sustainable_Economy #modern_slavery #slavery #muslim #tcot #sioa

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/DProfnLB@UKTescos

“every person working for the supermarket chain while still receiving state benefits is an in-kind subsidy from the government; ”

And, like most jobs, but to a far greater expense, also a subsidy from the worker.

Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/JbvoIZSp

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/siHdPkzy

The URL states that the source is jobcentreplus . jobhits . co. uk.
It is not the JobCentrePlus website.

If you click on the link you will notice that there is a message overlay at the base which reads:-
“This adjunct is made by JobHits Job Search Engine. We have done our best to fetch the Jobseekers Direct page that you have asked for. We would add that we are not responsible for the content and that this page has been retrieved from cache. It is about 8 hours old.”

No Such Job.
A search on the jobseekers . direct. gov. uk website for job ref BSD/27442 reveals that there is no vacancy with that code.
“Sorry, job number bsd/27442 has not been found. It may be mis-typed or no longer available. Please check the number and try again.”

I despise Tesco and sometimes go in just to point out that their packaged fruit & veg are mispriced and,strangely, not to the customers’ advantage. (try it – they always have something mispriced when I go in).
When they ignore you, stand at the till and refuse to pay the wrong price and phone consumer direct immediately (BTW not a patch on trading standards RIP)

Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/JbvoIZSp

Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/JbvoIZSp

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/siHdPkzy

Dear Tesco, I will not be shopping with you until you stop treating employees as slaves who the taxpayer pays. http://t.co/Is1BwdlX

1. There are lots of benefits claimants who have lost the habit of work, if they ever had it in the first place.

Making them work for their welfare is one way of getting them back into the habit of getting up, getting out and doing something apart from watching Jeremy Kyle.

It’s part of training for work.

2. Subsidy. Yep, its a subsidy.

However since when are you against subsidy? You’ve been arguing for subsidy for ages. Feed in tariffs are subsidies. The rich get the money at the expense of the poor.

Welfare itself is a subsidy.

Housing benefit is a subsidy.

Tax credits are a subsidy.

Labour is built on the idea of giving subsidies to the chosen one’s, less the expenses of the other chosen.

Wonderful forced labour in the UK! http://t.co/1Y8TL8GS http://t.co/IhtW48iG #sarcasm #slavery #JSA # TESCO

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

How our government hands tax-payer subsidies to the biggest retailer in the country http://t.co/xHlFZEWC

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/WwjfZMfe

‘There are lots of benefits claimants who have lost the habit of work, if they ever had it in the first place.’

You are a bigotted ignoramus. 99 percent of those on benefits are quite capable of getting up and doing things, they should not be exploited in this way. If the government wants them to work, give them a proper job with a proper wage.

Most of the people that spout hatred and whinge incesantly about ‘scroungers’ dont have a clue what real hard work is. And those that do would be better off directing their ire at worthy targets rather than buy into the media frenzy about scroungers and benefits cheats that are largely imaginary.

Rather than private enterprise gaining from free workers. Why not make these work experience hopefulls go and clean up the streets. I think this is a better idea, and I’m on the dole too. Yes I’d rather clean streets, cut grass or other civic nicities that would benefit my town.

the truth is that after a while of being forced to work in exchange for their benefits, people will find a job… any job, cos it will pay more than the benefit.
The elft hate this idea because it might actually get unemployment down.

You are a bigotted ignoramus, that’s one way of putting it but the fact remains these workfare programs are being undertaken by large multi-national corporations who could easily afford to pay at least the NMW this is capitalism at it’s worsted

There is quite a bit of truth in this story even if Tesco are trying to backtrack now. A friend of mine was on JSA, and as part of this, he went to work for tesco for a period of 1 month, unpaid, at 35 hours a week. At the end of the month, the manager, seemingly pleased with the work he had done, asked my friend if he would like to stay on for another few months. When my friend asked if this would be paid, the manager laughed, and said “why would we pay you when there are hundreds of people we could get to do it for free??”.

So there you have it. I have no doubt that if there wasn’t a minimum wage, Tesco would currently be employing people at 20p an hour if they could get away with it.

Safeguards were needed to ensure that training opportunities for the unemployed was not turned into a farce for profiteerig by the retail giants. If the retailers had really intended to help put right even partly the high unemployment rates among young people then it could have provided for a contract under which the retailers could be subsidised by job centre while topping up wages to the legal minimum wage. I hardly see the point in humiliating unemployed people instead of giving them real opportunities and not a white wash for opportunities

99 percent of those on benefits are quite capable of getting up and doing things,

===========

99% can work?

When I point out that disability has risen from 1 million to 2.5 million, I keep being told here that the extra 1.5 million can’t work.

99% are committing fraud is it now?

So on the 99% on unemployment, what exactly is wrong with them doing some sort of work for their welfare once they are past the contibution based support?

It was Labour party policy, and the Condems have just carried on with it.

Now if you are saying their should be compulsorary community service for all I might agree with you. That is exploitation.

NO. How about people care for there environment, and those who dont; be forced to clean it up!

Scum

God your a dick, you really are.

More on Tesco and the horrors of workfare from @AlexHern: http://t.co/objVNdUN #BBCqt

RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/XycGHxT2

Tesco's unpaid labour shows flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/iMNQeosX” @UKTesco you need to act on this – no place for slave labour

Tesco's unpaid labour shows flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/iMNQeosX” @UKTesco you need to act on this – no place for slave labour

RT @SoupySoupySue RT @gemmatumelty: RT @leftfootfwd More on Tesco and the horrors of #workfare from @AlexHern: http://t.co/rvzg6Oq2… #BBCqt

More on Tesco and the horrors of workfare from @AlexHern: http://t.co/objVNdUN #BBCqt

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/02/tescos-unpaid-labour-shows-the-flaw-at-the-heart-of-workfare/

RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/AqkH55Im

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare | Left …: There is fresh outrage against the gov… http://t.co/Hd474ARY

Except of course it harms their chance of getting a job. They can’t find a job while they’re stuck stacking shelves. And they lose useful volunteering and work experience places.

But hey, it means 1%ers like you can get more slave labour. Typical slaver mentality.

You’d rather slave doing make-work in the streets than make-work for companies? How about we don’t use slavery at all?

That’s right, your addiction to corporate welfare means you’re a lousy “worker”.
Training involves learning, not having the state use slaves to subsidise your stock portfolio.

Moreover, keeping people alive isn’t a subsidy. So sorry murder’s out of vogue with the left.

Slavery. And of course you want slavery to prop up your corporate welfare aid budget!

Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/JbvoIZSp

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

tesco night shift workers earning JSA + expenses. Is that the same expenses as MPs expenses? aah thought not! http://t.co/LXO6Gio1

The extent of 'free' labour being used by Tescos and others, tho u/e 'free' to say no? RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid http://t.co/B7Knj8wA

More on Tesco and the horrors of workfare from @AlexHern: http://t.co/objVNdUN #BBCqt

RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/3yV67DCp #wrb

Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare, writes @alexhern: http://t.co/YgLneBYU

[...] Originally published by Left Foot Forward Tweet [...]

More on Tesco and the horrors of workfare from @AlexHern: http://t.co/objVNdUN #BBCqt

[...] replacement for the flexible new deal in the UK, the coalition’s work program, has not had quite the same positive [...]

#Tesco claiming that job ad on pay of "JSA + expenses" was a "mistake". A mistake they made at least 3 times? #workfare http://t.co/DCVX1Rnx

#Tesco claiming that job ad on pay of "JSA + expenses" was a "mistake". A mistake they made at least 3 times? #workfare http://t.co/DCVX1Rnx

#Tesco claiming that job ad on pay of "JSA + expenses" was a "mistake". A mistake they made at least 3 times? #workfare http://t.co/DCVX1Rnx

#Tesco claiming that job ad on pay of "JSA + expenses" was a "mistake". A mistake they made at least 3 times? #workfare http://t.co/DCVX1Rnx

#Tesco claiming that job ad on pay of "JSA + expenses" was a "mistake". A mistake they made at least 3 times? #workfare http://t.co/DCVX1Rnx

More on Tesco and the horrors of workfare from @AlexHern: http://t.co/objVNdUN #BBCqt

‘If the government wants them to work, give them a proper job with a proper wage.’

To do what? Dig holes and fill them back in again?

Fair enough, the government needs to employ people (police, army, etc) but it can’t simply give employment to everyone. It gets its money through taxes and borrowing. The population is already taxed to the hilt and borrowing only gets you so far.

Those who are capable of working should at least try. I’m not disputing that many do yet can’t get a job. I am, however, disagreeing in the strongest terms that someone should have the luxury of refusing work and instead living off others.

People in jobs find other jobs all the time. It would be pretty limiting if having one job meant you were stuck there forever and couldn’t move.

And your assumptions about employer attitudes are interesting, to say the least. I can think of plenty who might prefer the get-up-and-go of someone who can put ‘Tesco’ on their CV rather than someone who did endless internships.

Both are useful. There’s no need to denigrate work. Then again, it’s your default setting to defend the idle. Maybe they’re your very own 1%?

Where is the Labour party in fighting this outrage??!

RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/znYDwxY3

RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/znYDwxY3

RT @leftfootfwd: Tesco's unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare http://t.co/znYDwxY3

They’ve had their own slavery programs, so don’t look there.

“At it’s heart, however, the problem lies with the government program which legitimises this practice”.

Exactly; Shame on Tesco for taking advantage, double the shame on the Government for both initiating and fuelling it in the first place!

Ah right, “slave labour” looks so great on a CV, when many bosses will penalise a CV for too many internships (“poor bargaining skills”). You of course haven’t noticed that there’s a job shortage, and that you are cheering on the rapidly rising unemployment rate.

Of course slave labour is good for the bottom line of your share portfolio, You’re spouting typical slaver propaganda.

More on Tesco and the horrors of workfare from @AlexHern: http://t.co/objVNdUN #BBCqt

More on Tesco and the horrors of workfare from @AlexHern: http://t.co/objVNdUN #BBCqt

‘Slaver’?

You really are off your rocker. You’re so deluded you have no concept of how offensive your bizarre comments are.

While you’re on a roll, why not drop in a gratuitous reference to the Holocaust?

"@leftlinks: Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of #workfare http://t.co/RhvgeYZo"

Boycott Tesco’s! Disgusting company, disgusting practices, disgusting ethics!

[...] also: • Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare – Alex Hern, February 16th [...]

"@leftlinks: Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of #workfare http://t.co/RhvgeYZo"

"@leftlinks: Left Foot Forward – Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of #workfare http://t.co/RhvgeYZo"

[...] on this scandal in November, and awareness has grown since then, with anger hitting a tipping point last week. Since then, the successes have come thick and fast, and it is within our power to end this scheme [...]

Putting “shelfstacker for Tesco” on your CV is certainly going to advance your job prospects in the world.

And what is so good about “work for the sake of work” that you seem to be advocating? Damn right I’m denigrating, meaningless, societally useless, menial, degrading, backbreaking, thought destroying work such as this. What is the point?

[...] Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare – Alex Hern, February 16th [...]

So, you think shelfstackers are pointless.

Where do you draw the line?

Are those on the production line doing useless work too? Is there no point in manufacturing in general?

Just because something is repetitive, difficult and entirely unglamorous, that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile. I can’t even guess at how many jobs you’ve dismissed with your last comment.

I suppose in your utopia we’d all be brain surgeons or footballers. Meanwhile, in the real world, a variety of jobs need doing. Thankfully, some of us realise this and don’t turn our noses up at work, expecting others to do the legwork and pay for us. It’s called self-respect – one of the many virtues of work.

[...] Tesco’s unpaid labour shows the flaw at the heart of workfare - Alex Hern, February 16th [...]

[...] is a word the government wishes would just go away. It is two weeks now since the infamous Tesco advert, offering ‘Job Seekers Allowance plus benefits’ working nightshifts, provoked public outrage [...]

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

"We'll always make work pay" says the MP whose party has introduced mandatory unpaid work: http://t.co/objVNdUN #PMQs

#Tesco – proud sponsors of the #MarianFinnucane #currentaffairs show and of #workfare – #RTE heads should roll http://t.co/MG9yKHlL

#Tesco – proud sponsors of the #MarianFinnucane #currentaffairs show and of #workfare – #RTE heads should roll http://t.co/MG9yKHlL