Campaigners call for Jobcentre closures to be called off

The PCS union, which represents Jobcentre staff is warning the plans are poorly though out and have been devised for the wrong reasons.

Union officials, workers, will be joined by politicians and other organisations who want to see the proposals scrapped.

The Evening Times Hands off Our Jobcentres campaign has been highlighting reasons why the closures will have a negative impact on the very people Jobcentres are supposed to help.

It has attracted widespread backing from politicians of all parties at Holyrood and Westminster, including Scottish Government ministers, anti-poverty groups and award winning film maker Ken Loach, whose I, Daniel Blake has highlighted poverty caused by the welfare system.

The DWP want to close half the city’s Jobcentres. It will see Anniesland moved to Partick, Bridgeton, Easterhouse and Parkhead moved to Shettleston, Castlemilk and Langside moved to Newlands and Maryhill moved to Springburn. Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire would also be shut and moved to Rutherglen.

PCS say the Glasgow closures must be halted and the closures across Scotland and the UK subjected to a rethink.

Glasgow has been hit harder than others as the plan is for a 20% cut in Offices, but the UK proposals will see just one in ten closed while Glasgow will see a 50% cut, with closures affecting some of the poorest areas in the country with higher than average unemployment rates.

Janice Godrich, PCS National president, said: “This campaign started in Glasgow and is now rolling out across the country, these proposals are ill thought out and at best “random” based on lease breaks.

“The DWP needs to stop and think about the impact some of these closures on local communities and how they will undermine the support to members of the public who rely on them to help them get back to work. We are opposed to these closures and will vigorously fight any attempt to force DWP workers out of their jobs.”

Out Campaign has highlighted the travel costs and problems with childcare, increased risk of sanctions and issues with a lack of access to computers at home and digital skills for on line jobseeking if the local Jobcentre is no longer available.

The meeting is today at Adelaide’s in Bath Street. From 11 am to 1 pm.

Other speakers include Chris Stephens Glasgow South West SNP MP.

CAMAPIGNERS are calling on the DWP to call off the Jobcentre closures in a public meeting in Glasgow today.

The PCS union, which represents Jobcentre staff is warning the plans are poorly though out and have been devised for the wrong reasons.

Union officials, workers, will be joined by politicians and other organisations who want to see the proposals scrapped.

The Evening Times Hands off Our Jobcentres campaign has been highlighting reasons why the closures will have a negative impact on the very people Jobcentres are supposed to help.

It has attracted widespread backing from politicians of all parties at Holyrood and Westminster, including Scottish Government ministers, anti-poverty groups and award winning film maker Ken Loach, whose I, Daniel Blake has highlighted poverty caused by the welfare system.

The DWP want to close half the city’s Jobcentres. It will see Anniesland moved to Partick, Bridgeton, Easterhouse and Parkhead moved to Shettleston, Castlemilk and Langside moved to Newlands and Maryhill moved to Springburn. Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire would also be shut and moved to Rutherglen.

PCS say the Glasgow closures must be halted and the closures across Scotland and the UK subjected to a rethink.

Glasgow has been hit harder than others as the plan is for a 20% cut in Offices, but the UK proposals will see just one in ten closed while Glasgow will see a 50% cut, with closures affecting some of the poorest areas in the country with higher than average unemployment rates.

Janice Godrich, PCS National president, said: “This campaign started in Glasgow and is now rolling out across the country, these proposals are ill thought out and at best “random” based on lease breaks.

“The DWP needs to stop and think about the impact some of these closures on local communities and how they will undermine the support to members of the public who rely on them to help them get back to work. We are opposed to these closures and will vigorously fight any attempt to force DWP workers out of their jobs.”

Out Campaign has highlighted the travel costs and problems with childcare, increased risk of sanctions and issues with a lack of access to computers at home and digital skills for on line jobseeking if the local Jobcentre is no longer available.

The meeting is today at Adelaide’s in Bath Street. From 11 am to 1 pm.

Other speakers include Chris Stephens Glasgow South West SNP MP.

Will Jobcentre closures affect you? Will it cost you extra or lead to more travel time.? Let us know.