2011 TUC Poverty Conference
Report from Challenging Myths and Stereotypes, the 2011 TUC Poverty Conference
Congress House 17 October 2011
Welcome to delegates
Frances O'Grady, the TUC's Deputy General Secretary welcomed the delegates to the conference and thanked everyone involved on the poverty advisory committee: the Unemployed Workers Centres, Save the Children, ATD Fourth World, Child Poverty Action Group, Oxfam and PCS.
Frances then said:
'This government is waging a war on the poor on three fronts: through its cuts, through its welfare reforms, and through its blatant prejudices. We, that is everyone who shares our belief in a compassionate, caring society, need to get organised and speak up for those without a voice to stop this wanton assault on the poorest people in our society.
We must:
work together to show that austerity is not the answer
expose the impact of government policies on the poorest, most vulnerable and most disadvantaged people
challenge the dangerous myths about poverty that are being propagated by the government and its friends in the media.
That last point is the theme of your conference today. The workshops you are holding will focus on some hugely important subjects: the insulting charge that disabled people are somehow swinging the lead; the lazy clichés about worklessness and bad parenting; the myth that decent welfare provision represents a disincentive to work.
So let's get to work and take the fight to the government.'
Workshops
There were five workshops:
'People on disability benefits are swinging the lead.'
'Lots of unemployed people are scroungers.'
'Benefits levels are a disincentive to work.'
'Child poverty is down to bad parents.'
'Speech Marks' - Community Links launched their paper on the
negative impact of MP's stigmatising language on welfare policy
All five workshops were run twice during the morning to maximise participation in discussions and draft questions which were put to the speakers' panel in the afternoon.
Afternoon
Kevin Flynn welcomed delegates back and chaired the Speakers Panel:
Christine Blower (NUT General Secretary)
Natascha Engel MP
Lizzie Iron (Citizen's Advice)
Owen Jones (author of Chavs: the Demonization of the Working Classes)
Bea Roberts (ATD Fourth World)
Sir Richard Tilt (former Chair, Social Security Advisory Committee and
Social Fund Commissioner)
Questions, drafted during the morning workshops, were put to the panel
Barry Johnson asked: As 19% of people believe social injustice is the cause ofpoverty how do we increase the numbers/percentage who hold this view?
Angela Webster asked; Should there be legislation to stop employers discriminating against people on benefit?
Warney Richardson asked: What more can those on the panel do to challenge the media in terms of their lies and damming statistics?
Mo Roberts asked: Should Child Poverty be redefined as Family Poverty?
Diane Brace asked: What are the policies you would propose in the area of welfare benefits and how would you garner public support for these policies?
Patricia Bailey asked: How do we break the chain where there is a concept of fear amongst parents regarding social services, schools, charities etc?
Poverty has been transformed from a social problem to individual failings. Poor people have become widely accepted as a 'feral underclass' . Poor people want support not pity or blame. Politicians encourage stigmatisation e.g. by saying benefits encourage the poor to breed. The parliamentary perception was that all the rioters in August 2011 were on benefit. We need a large concerted campaign against stigmatisation. To achieve this need a campaign against demonization of the unemployed is needed which simply states that there are not enough jobs. Need to get people involved as individuals. Taking an MP or journalist to where this life is lived can change attitudes. There are large differences between poor people - 'the poor' are not just a single homogenous social group.
It is Important that the voice of the poor - including working poor - is heard. ATD have put on a graphic exhibition to show what poor people contribute to society. This contribution should be acknowledged. Things don't change much unless there is public support. We have to use media. 'Cathy Come Home' shifted attitudes. We need more like that. The class background of most journalists means we don't know whose stories are representative.
Working with advice organisations is a good way forward. We would like to have a dialogue between employers and NGOs.
Would additional legislation be effective - while the principle about legislation is sound it may not be the best way. Legislation can help to shift attitudes but might be hard to frame a workable law. If benefits were called entitlements not handouts we could change these attitudes. We need good enforcement of existing laws.
Labour needs to rethink who it represents. We would like to hear Labour voicing the views of people on benefits. Labour could champion the cause. Labour chases votes and will probably go for what most people think. We need politicians who are calling to lead public opinion. Even conversation with own MP is too difficult if in grinding poverty. Minimum income standards level benefit rates. This can only be done by raising tax. Job Seekers Allowance should be linked with earnings not inflation.
Poverty should not be narrowed to a public health issue but there are public health issues to raise e.g. vitamin D deficiencies in diet raising spectres of pre second world war diseases like rickets. Deal with culture of covering up which is demonising of teachers; social workers etc. Teachers are accused of using poverty as an excuse for poor educational achievement but it can be a reason. The government has cut the health in pregnancy grant. Universal free meals in schools can make a huge difference. The poorest families will lose £1735 a year because of government cuts.
It is important to keep the Government to the Child Poverty targets. You cannot take children out of poverty without taking the parents out of poverty too. Need to address child poverty and families. Also need to look at poverty in childless families. Affordable child care is needed; better provision for disabled; better publicity of what benefit rates are. We need jobs for families that have never worked.
The TUC should campaign to raise JSA by £15 as a minimum. Can we campaign for real jobs and a real living wage? Stop penalising people for getting into education and volunteering. Job Centres should be where you could get these opportunities. Raising benefit levels with emergency payments. And get rid of bureaucratic cock ups.
Trade Unions communicate anti stereotypical messages to members and give a higher priority to welfare issues. Trade unions could organise people to have a voice - community trade unionism. PCS pamphlet 'Welfare: an alternative vision' is excellent. It is for Labour to champion these issues.
Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary, delivered the key note end of conference speech.
Mark Serwotka said 'all cuts etc are being sold as inevitable. This is dividing people and if we don't stand together we will be picked off. There is real risk in times of austerity that minority groups will be blamed. Confronting divide and rule we have to accept this is based on what the last Labour government did. There should be a much bigger gulf between Labour and the Government. PCS members working with a flawed benefit system now get penalised if they spend too long on an involved claim.
November 30th will see biggest strike since 1926. We should all unite to support this day. Welfare has to be central to this.'
Close of Conference
Kevin Flynn closed the conference by thanking everyone for their attendance and contributions.
2012 Poverty Conference will be on Wednesday 17th October in Congress House
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