UNITE Opinion BY NICOLA SANGSTER, LIVERPOOL


SOAPBOX Your letters Just surviving


Does anyone care about us?


Youth unemployment is the biggest problem facing the nation. I’m a typical unemployed young person facing a lifetime on the dole. Here is my typical day. I went to the bank this morning to collect my jobseekers’ allowance. I always have this paid directly to my bank account.


I did not go into the bank to see a cashier. I withdrew my money, from a cashpoint. I went to the supermarket to do my shopping. I purchased some French apples, German sausage and Danish bacon. I did not go to check out with an assistant. Instead I went to a self-service till.


I went home and switched on my Chinese computer and applied for jobs online.


I did not bother sending letters through the post, I used emails. I do most of my shopping online; it is far more convenient than using local shops. I then sat down and listened to music on my Chinese MP3 player and watched a film on my Chinese television. I know that these Chinese goods are made by Chinese slave labour, working in appalling conditions for starvation wages. But I get cheap laptops, mobiles and games consoles. So why should I care about them?


Recently I have heard from people who I was at school with how they are losing their jobs. My friend used to work as a shop assistant in the local high- street. The shop is closing from lack of business and she’s losing her job. Other friends used to have jobs as bank cashiers, delivering post, and supermarket checkout operatives, or working in the local post office. All these jobs are now disappearing.


As an unemployed teenager there’s only one person I can blame for the lack of jobs in Britain; David Cameron. There is nothing that young people in Britain can do to create jobs. So why doesn’t David Cameron do something about it?


Views expressed in letters and Soapbox are those of the individual and not necessarily endorsed by Unite.


OVER TO YOU:Why not send us your views for Your letters or Soapbox?Write to us at uniteWORKS, Unite, 128 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8TN or email uniteworks@unitetheunion.org


I worked from a young age having three jobs while I was still at school and starting full-time work the day after I left school. I’m now in my mid-40s and a wheelchair user and struggled with my health for a number of years. I’m on high doses of morphine throughout the day and night. I was medically retired from the company I love and enjoyed working for.


The government has done so much harm to disabled people. I’ve really noticed a difference in people’s attitudes towards me because people think I’m receiving every benefit available. But this is not the case. We’re in debt and much worse off by not being well enough to work. I receive a very small pension and do not receive income support. We also pay council tax. We are just holding onto our home.


And I dread the winter because we cannot have our central heating on during the day because we just cannot afford to. But you would not believe the amount of abuse I’ve received from people who say what benefits are you on, you must be better off than me.


I’ve been suicidal because I do not cope and hate the person I am, because of the stress I have put on my family. I would not cope if it were not for my lovely wife who has to do everything for me.


When I needed a specialist electric wheelchair it was Unite who was there for me. Our daughters, according to our government, will not work because I’m a parent who isn't working. But one daughter is at university and works long hours waitressing at night and our other daughter is in her third year of an apprenticeship. I would highly recommend anyone to join Unite.


Name and address withheld Fair deal for carers


On the Despair of the carers (uniteWORKS Jan/Feb 2013), my branch has many older people, some looking after elderly relatives or partners and some are disabled.


One area of concern is the level of benefit cuts, together with the new bedroom tax, and no bungalows available to accommodate those who need them. Then there’s carers’ allowance (CA) which is available to people who provide 35 hours or more care per week to someone who receives attendance allowance at the middle or higher care component of disability living allowance. It becomes complicated when a state retirement pension is also being received.


Where do you go for help and advice? This government is not there to help the person at the sharp end of the caring role – proving Cameron and his other vultures in government have lost the plot on benefit for disabled people and their carers.


There are some six million carers in the UK. Two-thirds say that caring has affected their own health. There are 175,000 young carers (under the age of 18). Less than one in four carers have had an assessment of their needs. 1.6m carers work full-time, yet carers save the country £57bn every year. I would like to call on all Unite members and beyond to fight for the rights of all carers to get a fair deal.


Vince Crosby, Newton Aycliffe 31 uniteWORKS March/April 2013


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