Challenging Poverty in Changing Times

Jack Dromey MP

Birmingham Unemployed Workers Centre in association with the Midlands TUC are holding a conference entitled: Challenging Poverty in Changing Times.

We have secured a top line up of speakers who will address the conference on a range of issues:
Jack Dromey MP speaking on the Welfare Bill and the effects on the Voluntary and Community Sector
Heather Wakefield, UNISON Head of Local Government speaking on Cuts and the effects on public services/society and in work poverty
Nicola Smith, TUC Head of Economic and Social Affairs Department speaking on the TUC National perspective on Poverty

Workshops to include:
• The Changing Regime of Welfare Benefits and the effects on society
• The Geography of Poverty/in work Poverty in the West Midlands

This conference is open to trade union officers and activists / voluntary, community and faith groups.

Date and Time: Friday 11 March 2011 registration from 9.30 a.m., conference runs from 10.00 am to 2.30 pm.
Venue: Birmingham City Council, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB
Lunch will be provided free of charge to conference delegates.
To book your place, please email Michelle Kesterton at: mkesterton@tuc.org.uk or telephone 0121 262 6383

Rowntree report echoes union concerns about in-work poverty, says TUC

Commenting on a new report published today (Monday) by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which shows that the number of children living in poverty in working households has increased to 2.1 million – the highest on record, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “This important report confirms the last government’s success in reducing the number of children in poverty, but it also shows that unions are right to be concerned about in-work poverty. If Britain wants to overcome this problem we will need increases in the minimum wage, tax credits and other in-work benefits, more affordable childcare and strong employment rights to protect vulnerable and exploited workers.”
For more information please visit http://www.jrf.org.uk/media-centre/monitoring-poverty-2010