Members of Sheffield Green Party will be joining Sheffield Justice for All, and Sheffield Anti-Cuts Alliance in supporting Disabled People United Sheffield on Friday 30th September. They will hold a “picnic against Atos” from midday outside their offices in Hartshead Square as part of a national day of action. Atos has the £300 million government contract for the assessment of people on disability benefits. Spokesperson Peter Garbutt comments : “The three main political parties have sought to demonise disabled people as lazy and workshy. Today is all about supporting vulnerable people suffering stress and worried about losing their benefits. Our action aims to publicise the uncaring way in which the organisation carries out work capability assessments on people with disabilities and health problems.’
‘The Government claims that the purpose of the assessments is to test what people can do, rather than what they can’t. But the real purpose is to strip much needed benefits from as many people as possible. This has already led to people with terminal illnesses and severe medical conditions being declared fit for work and having benefits cut. GPs and specialists are ignored in favour of decisions made by Atos’s computer. About 40% of appeals are then upheld so the system is not only cruel, but inefficient.” ENDS
Notes : The action will take place in the area to the front and rear (Hartshead Square) of the Bankers Draft pub, 1-3 Market Place, Sheffield from 12 noon to 3pm on Friday September 30th.
More information about the campaign can be found at http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com/