Protest against benefit sanctions outside Rochdale Job Centre

Stop benefit sanctions poster

Unite the Union and Momentum Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton were protesting against benefit sanctions outside Rochdale Job Centre today (Wednesday 9 March).

As part of the National Day of Action, the campaigners braved the rain for four hours to give out leaflets outside the Fleece Street centre.

A Momentum spokesperson said: “In 2013 David Clapson, a diabetic ex-soldier, died starving because he was penalised by the Jobcentre for missing a meeting. His body was found surrounded by CVs and his electricity had been cut off making his insulin unusable.

"It [sanctions] is totally counterproductive and there can be no justification for this grotesque cruelty by the government. It can’t be allowed to go on.

“Examples of utter destitution, starvation, mental illness, homelessness and suicide are becoming a common occurrence in Cameron’s ‘all in this together’ society.

“Sanctions are not an incentive to encourage people back to work, they are a punishment, pure and simple.”