Welcome to the wiki website for the Nottingham Claimants' Union.
The Nottingham Claimants' Union is a new organisation (as of October 2010) aiming to bring together benefit claimants in Nottingham in the UK to defend our interests. Primarily to fight the cuts to benefit and welfare currently being planned and brought in by the coalition government; beyond that, simply to represent the interests of people on benefits in whatever situation the future holds.
There are several things we can do:
-
Contribute to the general anti-cuts resistance that is building up involving many other groups and sectors of society
-
Help each other by mutual aid, collective activity and economy, information and moral support
-
Make sure benefit claimants speak for themselves and are heard rather than being ignored or spoken for by others
-
Link with similar groups in other parts of the country and world
This organisation is new and will grow according to the amount of desire Nottingham benefit claimants have to stand up and fight for their welfare rather than passively accept being downtrodden by uncaring authorities. People will get out of it what they put into it. It is something we must do for ourselves, in our own interests, just because it is in our own interests. It is not going to be done for us, or as much as or in the way that we'd like. We have as much right to organise and represent ourselves as workers in a trade union; and it makes as much sense. Especially in the face of a savage set of public service cuts that will adversely affect millions, in some cases disastrously, and none of which is necessary.
What you can do to be part of it:
-
Join the NCU mailing list at https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/ncu . It is open to supporters who are not on benefits as much as members who are. That is where we will discuss what we do.
-
Sign up for and contribute to this wiki. It is intended to be the main website, and being a wiki it is multi-contributor rather than being closed to most people to edit or add content. We need pages on various things detailed below.
-
Come to meetings, demos, actions etc. also join in with the wider anti-cuts movement as appropriate.
-
Publicise the union - tell people you know, ask claimants to join, spread the word especially with media outlets and sympathetic organisations. Direct people to any of our contact points.
Appropriate subjects for this wiki:
-
What cuts are planned and happening
-
Arguments in favour of resistance and against the cuts or passive acceptance of them
-
Stories and testimony of people's suffering
-
Also of resistance and what works
-
Advice/help/guidance on getting and keeping benefits, dealing with the DWP and other agencies etc.
-
Planning and organising actions
-
Signposting to other organisations that can be of help
There is a lot of help available for those new to wikis or this wiki provider. To start with read the original front page that this wiki began with.
To get in touch with us:
Email nottinghamclaimants AT gmail.com.
Write to: Nottingham Claimants' Union, Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham NG7 6HX
Or join the mailing list or wiki, if appropriate.
We look forward to your joining us.
