Today is a national day of action against Universal Credit (UC), the Government's much despised new benefit system which is hitting more and more people as it's rolled out across the country.
Unite the Union Community Branch had a Stop Universal Credit convoy touring Greater Manchester, and when it reached Salford Precinct this afternoon, local activists and councillors joined the protest, handing out leaflets and getting people to sign petitions.
They also gave out postcards for MPs urging them to "do all you can to halt the continued roll-out of Universal Credit and to support its replacement with a social security system which is fair and does not punish people for being in need..."
Many people came up to the protest telling their own stories of hardship under the UC regime, underlining Unite's Five reasons why Universal Credit must be stopped...
1. Unbearably long waiting time for claimants first payments
2. Claimants forced to make their claim online – many struggle or don't have access
3. Counter-productive sanctions that cause unnecessary suffering
4. Families at risk of homelessness as UC causes them to get into rent arrears
5. Cuts hurting children and disabled people.
Indeed, the Salford protest highlighted holiday hunger, as families with children are more likely to fall into crisis with the loss of the term time free school meals.
"A lot of families are struggling to feed their children, especially those on Universal Credit and when the kids are not in school are having to go to foodbanks which are running out" explained Jan Pritchard, Secretary of the Greater Manchester Unite the Union Community Branch "Use of foodbanks has increased by 52%, mainly in areas where Universal Credit has operated for a year.
"Universal Credit itself is very complicated" she added "It was brought in to supposedly cover all the other benefits and to make it simpler and fairer but it's become more complicated and it's not fair at all – a lot of people are losing out. It should be stopped because it's causing misery..."
The convoy wasn't just slamming Universal Credit but also offering to help people challenge unfair benefits at tribunals, either by going into meetings or by signposting to organisations like the Salford Unemployed and Community Resource Centre.*
Meanwhile, in St Peter's Square, Manchester, Disabled People Against Cuts, or DPAC, together with Unite and the Greater Manchester Law Centre, mounted its own protest at the DWP office near the Pankhurst statue...
"Currently people in wheelchairs are being stopped from talking to DWP officers by aggressive security in reception" the organisation told the Salford Star this afternoon "DPAC, along with other Disabled People's Organisations are calling on the Government to 'stop and scrap' Universal Credit, which has been described by the UN as a 'digital workhouse'."
*If anybody needs help with issues connected to Universal Credit contact gmucbsecretary@gmail.com or see the website – click here
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