moof

Here follows a brief analysis of statistics produced by DWP on sanctions imposed on JSA claimants. These confirm what most people already know- that if you appeal to the independent tribunal you will most probably win. And if everybody appeals the sanctions system will collapse.
Firstly, it is worth clarifying that under the law, to be eligible for work JSA claimants have to demonstrate that they are available for work. But what the automatons at the Jobcentre or Working Links tell people is necessary, is somewhat different from the measures prescribed in law.

Whilst, I am not a fan of statistics myself these particular ones that follow are pretty solid, in that they do actually relate to what happens day in day out on the ground. What is demonstrably proven here is that when people appeal they are successful far more often than not. The stats have been taken from DWP and the link to the tables is here.
 http://83.244.183.180/sanction/sanction/LIVE/tabtool.html

Variable sanctions
These can last for between 1 and 26 weeks. From April 2000 to July 2007, a total of 2 686 400 decisions were taken to impose a sanction of this type. In the vast majority of cases (2 665 710) no appeal was made. This is partly because upon reconsideration of the original decisions only 312 720 were upheld.
However, for the 20 690 appeals that were made, 17 920 were in favour of the claimant. This works out at 86%.

Fixed sanctions
A sanction of 2 weeks (4 weeks if repeated within 12 months, and 26 weeks if already received a 4 week sanction within last 12 months) are imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a Jobseeker’s Direction.
Of 500 790 sanctions only 38 890 were upheld on reconsideration. There was a total of 3500 appeals. Only 130 went against the claimant. That is a 96% strike rate!
Broken down into the reasons given for the sanction, cases in which claimants had given up a place on an employment training programme there were 260 appeals and only 10 went against the claimant.

Entitlement decisions
There were 1 623 630 decisions that people were not entitled to JSA. There were 6940 appeals. JSA claimants lost only 260 cases. For example, looking at the reasons given more closely of these appeals, benefits were stopped in 3350 cases for Failure to attend/ Failure to produce signed declaration. Only 80 decisions were upheld before the tribunal.

These stats only reinforce the need to challenge these decisions whenever they are made. If more people appealed Jobcentre plus could not possibly impose so many sanctions in the first place as the system would crack under the strain.

Please support and spread this appeal for a fallen comrade;

On February 14th an antifascist activist was heavily
wounded in Moscow by nazi scum. Now he is in hospital
in a critical state and needs money for serious
treatment.

This St Valentine’s day sexual minorities of Moscow
were planning to have a little procession on one of
the central squares of the city. But before the event
it was heard that nazi boneheads were planning to
ambush the event. Representatives of sexual minorities
rights comunity called for help from Moscow
antifascists.

On the day of the event a big mob of nazis indeed
showed up at the place of the event. But a crowd of
about 50 antifascist skinheads and punks appeared at
the square and shooed the nazis away. After this the
procession began, covered by antifascist activists.

But the Nazis managed to regroup and attacked one of
the antifascist skinhead, who was cut off from the
main force. The guy was beat up and stabbed heavily
and ended up in the intensive care unit in hospital.

His life is still in extreme danger now. Doctors say
that even at the best he could stay in hospital for
several months.

You can send money through WebMoney:

Z260630952047 (dollars)
R321197368781 (Russian Rubles)
E311886845482 (Euro)

After you send the money – please, send a notification
about the transfer to this address:
abc-msk@riseup.net

it happens like this, we spend an age with nothing then in 2 weekends we find two empty spaces and this was arundle street joinery: a simple climb in and yes this fat 40 year old, and hungover, managed this one and despite the hangover it was rather good fun to be at this again. any how some links for you

http://www.urbanadventure.co.uk/2008/01/20/the-sheffield-courthouse-night-and-day/

They’re all easy to get into but we desire not, as they’re documented for the archives.. but if people out there do then e mai lor leave a message here and we’ll help get it sorted..

if you want to come with me with me to the 2 empty spaces we have found, been around and enjoyed both are a easy climb into and safe to walk around, we happened to be there in glorious sunshine.. take a look at my stream,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/0742/sets/

i was thinking sunday 24th meet 12.30 fitzalan sq tram stop we could then do the one at shalesmoor and have a walk back through saint vincents onto the next one in the city centre and fall into the red lion for sunday lunch and a few orange juices.. i’ll be there from 1.30 will hang about to 2 o clock and i will be off..

note about safety: urban exploring is not a game, come with strong footwear, safe attitude i.e. not drunk or stoned and do listen to what is been asked of you, i do not feel like been fucked due to other’s crass actions..

Antifa is a collective of militant anti-fascists committed to opposing the rise of the far-right in Britain and abroad. We believe in the ‘no platform’ philosophy and the tradition of fighting fascism/racism stretching back to Cable Street, Red Lion Square, Lewisham, and Waterloo. We are a network of various organisations and individuals who see anti-fascism as part of the class struggle.

After decades of underperforming, the far-right now poses a significant threat politically. This initiative aims to bring together those who wish to act rather than talk. We aim to oppose the far-right’s electoral politics and where possible by means of direct action. As well as street activities we aim to promote militant anti-fascism in the football and music areas. This website will serve as an information and activity site, we will post up any intelligence on far-right activities and invite other anti-fascists to join us in counter activities.

The ‘Antifa’ initiative has come from members of the Anarchist Federation, Class War Federation, and No Platform. Although we come from the anarchist tradition we are open to work with any group/individual that is serious about militant anti-fascism, but we will NOT work with any state affiliated groups. If you are interested in getting involved then please goto http://www.antifa.org.uk/ Some people on have been informing me my no platform stance is wrong, here we have direct evidence as to why we need a no platform. The political establishment have failed the working class once again, it saddens me but also makes me more determined to act against scum like this and allowing racist on urban 75 (to some extent) and indymedia is giving them a platform.

I have argued for a couple of years with indymedia about the far right, and with the sectarian left along with sadly some anarchist that we need not to debate with them sorry this means no platform, the only people to understand this are Class War The Anarchist federation and a few others.

I welcome Antifa (used to be afa) and what there doing, and now lets understand the like,s of the BNP are a vile assault upon the working class and start to organise to remove them from our community’s, take back our community’s from them and of course the failed sectarian left and anarchist and start to organise and build to defend them from the likes of the BNP and the everyday attacks from the likes of New Labour, and of course (it saddens me to say) some of what the BNP are saying is right but here we must understand one thing there saying the right things to mask there racist agenda and dupe the working class into thinking there the voice of them.

The only voice of The Working Class is a united class that dose not scape goat others but understand the roots of there problems is capitalism itself then acts to do something about there problems, never before has this simple truth needed to be told lets act..