Unions are urging their members to join today’s protests against the government‘s ‘Bedroom Tax’.
Activists are protesting in dozens of cities and towns across the country against the tax that means anyone living in a council or housing association home deemed to have a spare bedroom will be charged more than £700 a year in reduced housing benefit.
The DWP has estimated 660,000 households will be affected, two thirds of which are occupied by at least one disabled person.
The government claims this will help overcrowding, but most of the ‘spare’ rooms are in the north of England, while most of the overcrowding is in London and the South East. More than 50 protests have been organised around the UK this weekend to oppose the tax which is due to come into force from April 1st.
PCS says the alternative is to build new council housing to meet need, and is encouraging its members to join protests today.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: ”Iain Duncan Smith’s attempt to deflect attention from his shambolic policy has fallen flat on its face. It looks very much like the young men and women serving overseas will not, after all, have a bedroom to come home to.
“He has cruelly misled armed forces parents. What thanks is this for the service their children have given this country?
“The government’s decision this week to exempt some foster carers and military families from the Bedroom Tax is a cynical ploy. This exemption would help just 5,000 people, while 650,000 face upheaval or poverty as they struggle to meet increased housing costs.
“The truth that Iain Duncan Smith is dodging is that 650,000 families across the UK are suffering sleepless nights because this government plans to uproot them from their homes or push them deeper into financial misery.”
Foster carers who look after one child in social housing with a spare room have been exempted, but those with two or more look to be hit – Unite branded such a policy as ”bizarre”.
“We are honoured to be working with communities across the UK to help people keep their homes. If this pernicious move is allowed to happen, it will have a terrible impact of forcing kids out of schools and causing people to lose their jobs.
“In essence, the government is engaging in community clearances – and we must oppose them with all our strength.
“The strength of feeling among communities about this senseless and cruel policy is palpable. Unite is defiantly proud to be helping people come together to defend their homes and those of their friends and neighbours too.
“The government has got this very, very wrong. This is no way to go about solving the housing crisis.
“Unite has warned that the Bedroom Tax will cause social upheaval as communities are cleared of people who cannot afford to pay for their bedrooms.”
Union News
