PROTECT YOURSELF!

Join the Edinburgh Claimants Solidarity Network

What's the purpose of the Network?

The main idea of the Solidarity Network is that claimants in the Edinburgh area can support each other and not be left isolated in our dealings with the benefit authorities.

• People involved can accompany each other to potentially tricky interviews at the Employment Service, Benefits Agency or Benefits Agency Medical Services. This could be a Restart interview, suspected fraud interview, medical examination for incapacity benefit, etc.. Never face them alone!

   

• If the benefit authorities have done something really bad, like cutting someone's benefit, and it's not been sorted out by phone calls or an appointment at the office, then the claimant affected can mobilise the network phone tree. He or she can use the phone tree to call on people to come to the benefit office at a specific time to demonstrate in his or her support, to demand that their benefit is reinstated or whatever is needed. This kind of dolebusters phone tree has been set up in Brighton, and we recently received a letter about its successful use in Ontario, Canada!

What happens if I join the Network?

When we get enough people we will circulate everyone with a phone tree with everyone's first name and phone number (not surnames or addresses). Then we can all contact each other when we need to.

What if I can't make it to accompany someone to an interview or go to a demo?

No one would be expected to be able to turn up everytime. It's worth joining as long as you are potentially free on some weekdays during benefit office hours (9-5pm).

But what if I don't know much about benefit rules and regulations?

Don't worry, the main thing is that just by being there you will be giving someone invaluable support. Claimants can get advice from Edinburgh Claimants every Tues 12-4 at the Autonomous Centre (ACE), where we have free advice leaflets, and benefits advice books you can consult and borrow.

Wowie zowie, I'm convinced. How do I join ?

Fill in the slip below and return to Edinburgh Claimants, or ring 0131 557 6242 with the info (leave message on ansaphone when not open)

AND DON'T FORGET

• The "3 Strikes" resistance is continuing. If you are hassled or mistreated by a benefits official get their name and contact Edinburgh Claimants.

• With the New Deal compulsory cheap labour scheme, benefit cuts for single parents and for people with disabilites, and all the rest of the crap, a claimants fightback is needed more than ever. Drop into the Autonomous Centre on claimants day - Tuesdays 1-4pm - or give us a ring if you'd like to get some leaflets to give out, do a bit of flyposting or whatever. Every little helps in the march towards global revolution

• ACE is open tues 1-4pm, sun 2-6pm. Meetings 7.30pm first wed of the month. Get in touch to find out what's happening.

Send slip to Edinburgh Claimants, c/o ACE, 17 W.Montgomery Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HA or e mail us the information at ec at autonomous.org.uk

I would like to join the Claimants Solidarity Network

NAME...............................................................................................

ADDRESS..........................................................................................

.......................................................................................................

TEL.NO.............................................................................................

PLEASE NOTE!

This Network is for claimants in the Edinburgh area - but we encourage claimants elsewhere to organise in a similar way. We can help with access to benefits information, computers, printing etc.. Contact Edinburgh Claimants, or one of the other groups in the Groundswell Network - for addresses see Haringey Solidarity Group athttp://home.clara.net/hsg/gswell/gswell2.html or write to Edinburgh Claimants for a more comprehensive list in the new pamphlet The Agitator, which lists all the Groundswell groups, along with many different autonomous grass-roots groups Britain and Ireland-wide - please send an A5 stamped addressed envelope and some stamps.

email ec at autonomous.org.uk

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