Unite calls for entire welfare bill to be dropped and for government to start again
Unite, the UK’s leading union, has warned that the government’s U-turn on welfare cuts would create an unfair two-tier system and will prevent disabled people in future entering work, college and university.
The government made a much-heralded U-turn at the end of last week when it scaled back its plans to cut the welfare bill.
However, Unite believes that the planned changes in fact create greater injustice. The proposal to limit Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to new claimants will create a two-tier workforce and will create a massive barrier to work for newly disabled people.
Unite is further concerned that reducing PIP payments for younger people as currently planned will mean that they will be effectively excluded from university and colleges as they can’t access the funding needed to offset the higher costs they generate in order to study.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Why do Labour keep making the same mistakes, attacking the most vulnerable in our society.  The government’s latest plans for disabled benefits cuts are divisive and sinister. Creating a two-tier system where younger disabled people and those who become disabled in the future will be disadvantaged and denied access to work and education, is morally wrong.
 
“We need a system which ensures that disabled people get the support they need to enter the workplace and receive an education, the government’s plans specifically prevent this happening.
 
“The government needs to drop its entire welfare bill and start again with the principle of social justice and helping people into work at its heart.”
ENDS