National remits insane, jobless workers say

Press, 17 May 1984, Page 3

National remits insane, jobless workers say

PA Auckland Unemployed workers plan to demonstrate at the National Party Auckland division conference at the week-end. They are angry about “insane” remits on the unemployment benefit. The protest organiser, Mr Bill Bradford, said the remits for discussion at the conference showed that National Party people were completely out of touch with the reality of unemployed people’s plight. “Judging by the remits, they are either out of touch or they are slightly evil. We prefer to think they are out of touch,” Mr Bradford said. “They seem to be trying to reinforce the belief common in the party that the unemployed are to blame for their situation.” Mr Bradford, from the Unemployed Workers’ Rights Centre, said unemployed workers would be outside the conference opening on Saturday to confront members and explain their demands. The remits on the unem-

ployment benefit are: • That school-leavers not be eligible for the benefit until six months after leaving and that backdating facilities be abolished. • That the criteria for receiving the benefit be changed to include daily attendance at a designated place for doing work or retraining appropriate to the applicant’s ability. • That the Government be asked to reduce the dole at all levels from its present maximum down to a minimum level of sustenance and that those who receive the dole, who suffer hardship as a result of the change, be eligible for a hardship grant. Mr Bradford described the remits as insane. He said the first appeared to be a way of punishing schoolleavers and their parents, and the second requiring daily attendance was a way of making unemployed people “jump through hoops” for their benefit. He said dole rates were already level.