PRESS RELEASE: Lib Dems Savage Young Peoples Future But Candidate Claims to Support Youth Fight for Jobs

Dan and the Jarrow Marchers on their way through Wakefield

It has come to the attention of Youth Fight for Jobs that a Liberal Democrats candidate for the Wakefield Rural ward in this year’s council elections, Finbarr Cronin, has used the campaigns logo on his election material and is claiming he supports the campaign.

Whilst Youth Fight for Jobs seeks to build support for the campaign and publicity for issues around youth unemployment and education cuts, we campaign on a clear basis of opposition to all cuts, demanding real jobs at a decent wage and call for the reintroduction of EMA and scrapping tuition fees.

Unfortunately, this is the exact opposite of what the present coalition government including Liberal Democrats has done. The government has presided over savage cuts to public services, as well as scrapping EMA and doing precisely the opposite of Nick Clegg’s pledge to scrap university tuition fees by trebling them.

Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Organiser for Youth Fight for Jobs said, “Up and down the country the Jarrow marchers received huge support from ordinary people and trade unionists. Many of whom were angry at what they felt was a betrayal by Lib Dem leaders over issues such as increasing tuition fees which is likely to put large layers of young working class kids from attending university.”

“If Finbarr Cronin really supports the aims of Youth Fight for Jobs then he should resign from the Liberal Democrats and contest elections on a platform that includes the key demands of Youth Fight for Jobs. This is what Wakefield YFJ activist, Dan Dearden, is doing standing as part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition in Pontefract North ward.”

Notes

1)      Youth Fight for Jobs received the support of several organisations in the Wakefield area including the Red Shed (Wakefield Labour Club) who hosted the evening event and fed the marchers, Five Towns Brewery who donated a barrel of beer to the event, Ewan McLennan who performed for free at the event and 15^th Wakefield Scout group who allowed the marchers to use their hall to stay overnight in, Wakefield Socialist Party and Wakefield Coalition Against Cuts who promoted the march and evening event.

2)      The five key demands Youth Fight for Jobs put forward during the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011 were: Bring back EMA, Scrap university fees, Create decent jobs – not slave labour, Save youth services, Build good, affordable houses for all

Protest Over Attacks on Benefits Taking Place in Leeds Today

PRESS RELEASE 30/9/11
For immediate use

Protest Over Attacks on Benefits Taking Place in Leeds Today

Leeds Youth Fight for Jobs is organising a protest as part of the ‘National Day of Action Against Poverty Pimps Atos’ alongside protests in around 16 other cities across the country. The protest will take place at 12 noon, outside the Leeds offices of Atos Origin, MWB Business Exchange, Whitehall Quay, Leeds.

Atos Origin is responsible for overseeing Work Capability Assessments for the Department of Work and Pensions in a £100m a year contract. These assessments are supposed to be about finding out what work people can do instead of what they can’t. In the opinion of Youth Fight for Jobs, and others taking part in the day of action, they are a device for stripping benefits from people who need them. Around 40% of appeals against Atos Origins decisions have been successful, and the company have diagnosed several people fit to work who have passed away from long-term injury or sickness within weeks.

Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs Organiser, said “Both the previous Labour government and the current Con-Dem administration have set Atos free to drive disabled people onto JSA instead of disability benefits. This is part of the governments drive to cut costs at any expense to pay off the deficit occurred from bailing out the financial sector, as ever it is up to ordinary people to bear the brunt of this recession.”

“Meanwhile successive governments have attempted to cut back on the state owned Remploy network of factories which have provided a genuine alternative for disabled people instead of being forced to rely on benefits. If any of the main parties were serious about helping disabled people into work, they would stop closing Remploy factories and look to expand that network of factories as part of a programme of providing work opportunities for disabled people.”

The protest will also be the final event that three of those taking part in prior to the full length of Youth Fight for Jobs recreation of the Jarrow Crusade which starts the following day. They will be embarking on a 300 mile journey that will take them to London for November 5th and bring them through Leeds for a regional demonstration on October 8th.

Youth Fight for Jobs & Education was launched in 2009 by young workers, students and unemployed youth to campaign for a future for young people of either a real job, quality training or free education. The campaign is supported by 7 national trade unions, PCS, RMT, UCU, CWU, TSSA, UNITE and BECTU and many individual trade union branches. In Yorkshire, the campaign organised several demonstrations during 2010 including a demonstration against education cuts at Leeds University in February, a demonstration on May 1st in Hull, the capital of Youth Unemployment, a joint protest with the PCS Young Members Network against public sector cuts in Leeds and a demonstration on the day parliament voted through the fees rise which was supported by the Yorkshire & Humber TUC. In 2011, Youth Fight for Jobs has organised demonstrations against cuts to EMA in towns like Grimsby and Halifax, and is currently organising the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011, on the 75th anniversary of the original Jarrow Crusade.

PRESS RELEASE: Protest outside Atos Origin in Leeds as part of a National Protest Against Benefit Cuts – Friday 30th September, 12pm

On Friday 30th September at 12pm, Leeds Youth Fight for Jobs will protest outside the Atos Origin offices in Leeds as part of the ‘National Day of Action Against Atos Origin and the poverty pimps.’

The protest is featured on the UK Uncut website http://ukuncut.org.uk/actions/713

Iain Pattison, Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs, said “Atos Origin has a £300m contract with the Department of Work and Pensions and receives huge financial incentives to reduce the numbers of disabled people claiming benefits. Atos is infamous for its arbitrary and impersonal process, which refuses to recognise mental health issues whatsoever. Over 40% of people who have appealed against Atos’ original decisions have been successful. David Cameron’s coalition cuts are attacking some of the most vulnerable people in society, and they shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.”

For more information on the Atos Origin protest please contact Iain Dalton (YFJ Yorkshire Organiser) on 07809839793

For more information on the Jarrow March for Jobs please contact Ian Pattison (Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs – Press Officer) on 07766585543

PRESS RELEASE: Youth Fight for Jobs supports public sector general strike on November 30th

Youth Fight for Jobs supports the call by the TUC for public sector-wide strikes on November 30th to defend pensions.

Iain Pattison, Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs and marching from Jarrow to London against youth unemployment this October, said “The draconian attacks on public sector pensions affect young people just as much as anybody else. Public sector workers are being forced to work until they are 68, but almost 1m young people are unemployed. Public sector workers are being forced to work until they drop, while young people are being denied jobs. If public sector workers can stop the cuts to their pensions, then it will weaken this rotten millionaire Con-Dem coalition. We could halt or even reverse the rising tuition fees, scrapping of EMA, and other attacks on our right to a decent education. School, college, and university students and young unemployed should organise solidarity with teachers, lecturers, civil servants, and other public sector workers on strike at their institutions on November 30th.”

As well as putting youth unemployment to the top of the agenda, Youth Fight for Jobs will be building support public sector-wide strikes on November 30th throughout the Jarrow March for Jobs. After the Jarrow March for Jobs, Youth Fight for Jobs will be launching a campaign to encourage young people to join a trade union, ensuring November 30th is as successful as possible.

PRESS RELEASE: Youth unemployment figures announced today – Jarrow March for Jobs 2011

Today the youth unemployment figures showed that another 78,000 young people have been thrown on the scrapheap. Around 1m young people are not in employment, education, or training. This number has increased in the last year. In response young people this October will join the Jarrow March for Jobs recreating the Jarrow Crusade on its 75th anniversary, marching from Jarrow in the North East of England on Saturday 1st October arriving in London on Saturday 5th November. The march will aim to put the issue of youth unemployment to the top of the political agenda.

Iain Pattison, Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs and one of the 2011 Jarrow marchers, said “The Con-Dem government say that young people are lazy, but the reality is that there are very few decent jobs out there. Rising youth unemployment is denying young people a decent future. That is why this October young people will march from Jarrow to London to show that we are not lazy, and that we are willing to fight for our future.

The march will arrive in Yorkshire on Wednesday 5th October visiting Northallerton, Harrogate, Leeds, Wakefield, Barnsley and Sheffield before leaving on Thursday 13th October and going further South, with events such as benefit gigs, public meetings, rallies etc. in those towns and cities and others in the rest of Yorkshire to coincide with the march. There will also be regional demonstrations in Leeds and Hull on Saturday 8th October.

Youth Fight for Jobs & Education was launched in 2009 by young workers, students and unemployed youth to campaign for a future for young people of either a real job, quality training or free education. The campaign is supported by 7 national trade unions, PCS, RMT, UCU, CWU, TSSA, UNITE and BECTU and many individual trade union branches. In Yorkshire, the campaign organised several demonstrations during 2010 including a demonstration against education cuts at Leeds University in February, a demonstration on May 1st in Hull, the capital of Youth Unemployment, a joint protest with the PCS Young Members Network against public sector cuts in Leeds and a demonstration on the day parliament voted through the fees rise which was supported by the Yorkshire & Humber TUC. In 2011, Youth Fight for Jobs has organised demonstrations against cuts to EMA in towns like Grimsby and Halifax, and is currently organising the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011, on the 75th anniversary of the original Jarrow Crusade.

Further information on the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011 is available on its website – http://www.jarrowmarch2011.com

PRESS RELEASE – Riots: Fatal Police Shooting Sparks Eruption of Anger

Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs sent out this press release out early this morning. Since then we have been interviewed on BBC Radio Sheffield (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00j91pd, 2:17:50 in) and a pre-record interview that will go out at 5pm on Sunrise Radio in Bradford (www.sunriseradio.fm).

PRESS RELEASE 9/8/11
For immediate use

Riots: Fatal Police Shooting Sparks Eruption of Anger

The tragic death of Mark Duggan at the hands of the Metropolitan Police in London, and subsequent events represent a boiling over of the anger of young people of the lack of a future the current system offers them, as well as frustration over the role of the police over the last few years, with stop and search measures harassing young people and the kittling and repression of student protests over the last few years.

It is no surprise when rumours surrounding of a shooting in Chapeltown that all sorts of rumours of rioting and looting appeared. It demonstrates that many parts of the country have are facing a similar situation to inner London. Like in London, students in Leeds were kettled on demonstrations against education cuts and several activists were harassed by police. Youth unemployment is hovering around the 20% mark nationally as it has been for some time, whilst cutbacks to education will make it harder for young people to gain skills or re-train to help them find work.

Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Organiser of Youth Fight for Jobs, said “These riots are really an outpouring of the elemental rage of many young people at the lack of a future for them under the assault on their prospects and living standards to pay for a crisis they haven’t caused. Rather than turning in on their own communities, Youth Fight for Jobs seeks to give a positive outlet to this anger by build a mass campaign for decent jobs and well-resourced free education and training for all. Young people need to link up with workers in the trade unions in an organised movement to oppose cuts to youth services and demand democratic accountability of the police to local communities.”

Youth Fight for Jobs & Education was launched in 2009 by young workers, students and unemployed youth to campaign for a future for young people of either a real job, quality training or free education. The campaign is supported by 7 national trade unions, PCS, RMT, UCU, CWU, TSSA, UNITE and BECTU and many individual trade union branches. In Yorkshire, the campaign organised several demonstrations during 2010 including a demonstration against education cuts at Leeds University in February, a demonstration on May 1st in Hull, the capital of Youth Unemployment, a joint protest with the PCS Young Members Network against public sector cuts in Leeds and a demonstration on the day parliament voted through the fees rise which was supported by the Yorkshire & Humber TUC. In 2011, Youth Fight for Jobs has organised demonstrations against cuts to EMA in towns like Grimsby and Halifax, and is currently organising the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011, on the 75th anniversary of the original Jarrow Crusade.

For more information, contact Iain on 07809839793 / yorkshireyfj@googlemail.com

For more information about the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011, please contact Iain (details above) or visit its website – http://www.jarrowmarch2011.com

Harrogate Destination as Youth Recreate Jarrow March for Jobs on 75th Anniversary

See below a press statement put out by Harrogate Action, an anti-cuts group in the area, about their plans for when the Jarrow March arrives in Harrogate. We’re very grateful for their support and would encourage people in the area to get involved; contact details at the end.

In 1936, 207 marchers walked almost 300 miles to lobby Parliament about the unemployment and poverty they were suffering. These intrepid folk passed through Harrogate en-route. In October this year the youth of Britain will mark the 75th anniversary of the Jarrow March by again visiting Harrogate. Recent figures have shown that the issue of unemployment still exists especially amongst youths. At present there are 965,000 16-24 year olds who are unemployed. This year’s march, which is demanding decent jobs and a free education for young people, will visit Harrogate on October 6.

Harrogate Action the district wide non Party Political group, who’s aim is to “highlight the impact of the government’s austerity measures on the folk of Harrogate and demonstrate the alternatives to the cuts.” will be organising the day, with entertainment on the evening and by providing accommodation and food for the marchers. But they need your help, can you put up and feed a marcher on the night of Thursday 6 October? Will you support us by attending the musical evening event ? Or if neither of these are possible then please send us a donation to help support our activities.

Nigel Heptinstall interim chair of Harrogate Action said, “the youth have suffered particularly under this coalition Government’s austerity measures. They have lost the Educational Maintenance Allowance, University fees have reached astronomical levels and unemployment levels for our youth (16-24 year olds) is nationally for Feb-Apr 2011 895,000 (19.3%)1. We cannot allow a whole generation, of mainly the worse off in society, to be treated in this soul destroying way, we must voice our concerns, so please do all you can to support the day.”

Other activities planned by Harrogate Action in the near future is a public meeting featuring prominent local people representing the voluntary sector, non profit making organisations and trade unions to be held at the Catholic Club on 26 September together with a stall and leafleting campaign. Our next organisation meeting is at 8:15 on 1 August at the Catholic Club Robert Street Harrogate, if you support our aims you are welcome to attend. To find out more, or to offer your support, search the internet for Harrogate Action or email harrogateaction@gmail.com

For further Information
contact Nigel Heptinstall, interim chair Harrogate Action, Harrogate Action http://www.harrogateaction.org or email harrogateaction@gmail.com

1 – Figures obtained from
the Office for National Statistics Summary of statistics published on 13 July
2011

Join Our Sponsored Walk to Raise Funds for the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011

Below is a press release sent out by Yorkshire Youth Fight for Jobs ahead of our sponsored walk this coming weekend. We will be walking along the proposed route of the Leeds to Wakefield leg of the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011, setting of at 11am on Sundau 31st July, hopefully arriving in Wakefield between 4pm and 5pm. If anyone would like to take part in the walk then please contact us at yorkshireyfj@gmail.com and we can send you a sponsorship form.

Yorkshire YFJ activists to mark 2 months to go until Jarrow March for Jobs 2011

On Sunday 31st July, Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) activists will be participating in a sponsored walk from Leeds to Wakefield along the route that the leg of the Jarrow March for Jobs 2011 will hopefully be taking on October 10th. The walk will mark 2 months to go until the Jarrow March is launched on 1st October in the North East. It also comes a month after the strikes of public sector workers in defence of their pensions, an attack which like many others from the government will hit young people the hardest.

The walk will involve organiser and supporters of Youth Fight for Jobs, the campaign group for young people which is organising the march, students including those who were amongst the organisers of the occupations at Leeds University and Leeds Trinity University College and also unemployed youth from Yorkshire who will be taking part in the march itself. It will leave City Square in Leeds at around 11am and hopefully arrive in the precinct in Wakefield between 4 and 5pm.

Iain Dalton, Yorkshire Organiser of Youth Fight for Jobs, said “The Jarrow March for Jobs 2011 will mark 75 years since the original Jarrow Crusade at a time when, due to the cuts and austerity that have been imposed by the current Con-Dem government to pay for the bank bailout by the previous New Labour government, social conditions are returning that existed and motivated those original marchers, like mass unemployment.”

He added, “Young people don’t want to be sat around on benefits. We want educational and training opportunities so we can put our talents to the use for the benefit of everyone. We want jobs for all with decent pay and conditions rather than be consigned to the scrap heap of the dole. Youth Fight for Jobs exists to organise young people so we can fight for these things and support the struggles of others in defence of jobs and education. The Jarrow March 2011 will allow YFJ to bring that message to towns and cities up and down the country.”

Youth Fight for Jobs & Education was launched in 2009 by young workers, students and unemployed youth to campaign for a future for young people of either a real job, quality training or free education. The campaign is supported by 7 national trade unions, PCS, RMT, UCU, CWU, UNITE, TSSA and BECTU as well as many individual trade union branches. In Yorkshire the campaign organised several demonstrations during 2010 including a demonstration against education cuts at Leeds University in February, a demonstration on May 1st in Hull, the capital of Youth Unemployment, a joint protest with the PCS Young Members Network against public sector cuts in Leeds and a demonstration on the day parliament voted through the fees rise which was supported by the Yorkshire & Humber TUC.