The official unemployed figures released today show that 2.44 million people are now unemployed in Britain. This is the highest number in over 15 years. The Wirral H & S Centre has decided to set up an Unemployed Workers Movement in Merseyside, with the launch meeting being held on Thursday 27th August at 2pm at the Wirral health and Safety Welfare Centre, 4 St Anne St. Birkenhead Wirral.

The meeting is open to all unemployed people and is a local attempt to create a voice & representation for unemployed people, and a campaign for free training and jobs at a proper rate of pay. The meeting organiser, Alec McFadden, company secretary of the Wirral Centre said “in Merseyside unemployment has increased by 54 percent in the past 12 months and is now standing at 57,340 or 6.15 percent. So is 2 percent above the national average  which is 4.1 percent. The level of benefit, Jobseekers Allowance is only £64.30 per week which is clearly not enough to live on. The effects of the recession are now starting to have a detrimental effect on people, families and communities.

• Over 1 million young people 16-25 unemployed.
• Increase in Homelessness & House Repossession.
• Increase in Alcoholism & Addiction
• Increase in Family Stress & Breakdown
• Increase in Domestic Violence
• Increase in Crime.
• (according to The Audit Commission 12/08/09)

This situation will only get worse unless more focused Government action is taken with saving manufacturing jobs a priority. Too many employers are going into liquidation, closing down & sacking all their workers The Government could nationalise these workplaces, (like they nationalised the banks) save jobs and tackle youth unemployment by increasing youth training and apprenticeship schemes. The Financial Services Authority (F.S.A) has funded a special money guidance project which the Wirral Centre is part of, providing free guidance on:

● Mortgages
● Borrowing
● Credit
● Savings
● Investment
●Insurance
● Pensions
● Budgeting
But much more could be done by involving Local Authorities in this type of work.

Alec concluded “Who would have believed that the 21st Century would see the return of Unemployed Workers Organisations, which were so active and necessary in the 1930’s when Unemployment reached record levels. Nobody in modern Britain either speaks or represents The unemployed or their families, so the centre will create the first Unemployed Workers Union of the 21st Century on Thursday 27th August 2009.

For Further Information
Please Contact
Alec McFadden on
0151 666 1999 or 07831 627531