National Day of Action against Welfare Reform October 5 2012

Beneficiaries who have had enough of the attacks on them by this government will be picketing WINZ offices across the country in a national day of action. The National Day Of Action Against Welfare Reform is being called for on Friday October 5 by the Facebook group 'Occupy WINZ'. The group is coordinating with people and organisations across NZ who oppose the government's agenda for welfare reform and are calling for people to join in protests on the day. Details of events are being coordinated in towns and cities throughout the country and will be posted on the National Day Of Action Against Welfare Reforms page as they are organised. Olive Mc Rae of the Occupy WINZ group says "It needs pointing out that what we are facing is a war on the poor. We have working poor now, on minimum wage needing food parcels from food bank. We need to really plug a united front. It's not just beneficiaries, it's all of us, low-paid workers included."

"Poverty doesn't exist as an individual problem, and anyone of us could find themselves at some point needing to go on a benefit especially within this economic climate. I urge all people to stand in solidarity with and show support for the people struggling to provide the basic needs for their families and those being targeted and attacked in these latest reforms. Work and Income NZ is already systematically abusive and time wasting; it is designed to make those who need help feel like untrustworthy criminals in need of interrogation more than care and support, and the policies the Nats and ACT are pushing through are only going to make it worse by creating a defunct and inaccessible welfare system. We need to fight these reforms for all of us; whether you are a beneficiary or not this affects us all." said Joanna Wildish, Chch activist and organiser.

ENDS

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