TUS Programme

dharma200 wrote: »

I'm not unemployed, I just hate this kind of exploitation.

You're like a dog with a bone. I could give you stats of 20% Tus participants actually getting work during or immediately following their placement. But you'll just spat out the same sh1te: "slave labour/ work for a euro an hour". The majority, and I mean 80+ % of people that I know who have completed the Programme would tell you that they have benefited, be that work, a gap filler on a CV, experience, meeting new people, a purpose, a routine etc, but that would be wasted on you. Your mind is made up.

Joan Burtons Sexy Knickers

MouseTail wrote: »

That is not true, participants on TUS are long term unemployed, and on Gateway structurally unemployed who have not self activated. Newest entrants, and those most likely to activate are actually left alone.

Well said, MouseTail. The days of expecting something for nothing are over. It isn't fair to hard working tax payers to have their money taken out of their wages every week and handed over to people who just expect to hold their hand out. If one hasn't been on a TUS, Ce, JobBridge or other scheme, then they've no right to put them down. If they tried one, they just might be pleasently surprised by the satisfaction of helping others less fortunate, by making new friends, new contacts and getting back into the swing of working again. Going on those schemes, one has no illusions of being kept on. You know the timeframe and it's up to yourself to make the most of it.

MouseTail

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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That is not true, participants on TUS are long term unemployed, and on Gateway structurally unemployed who have not self activated. Newest entrants, and those most likely to activate are actually left alone.

A TUS gang pictured in action:

dodzy wrote: »

Out of interest, how long have you folks been unemployed ?

I'm not unemployed, I just hate this kind of exploitation.

ive been out about 18 months.

dharma200 wrote: »

These schemes should be stopped. Simple. Next it will be work houses.

davlacey wrote: »

yea but stopping money to me is one thing but to stop the whole claim is madness because someone doesnt want to work for 1 euro an hour

Out of interest, how long have you folks been unemployed ?

Fred Swanson

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+1 on that dharma. i agree that long term unemployed should be made do something. but having people with trades going around picking up rubbish in the local gaa grounds is ridiculous.they should be building council houses and using anyone with a trade to build them.

These schemes should be stopped. Simple. Next it will be work houses.

Yep, you are probably an easy target, safe option for a scheme designed for nothing but exploitation if people and stats. I truly hope you aren't forced into this degrading scheme.

TBP

The people that were sponging off the state for the longest or the ones that were at it during the Celtic Tiger when there was any amount of work out there should be the ones that be targeted or put out to work on these schemes first. It can't be that hard for the powers that be to figure out who they are. I've no problem in going out and doing whatever the hell it is they want me to do but after working and paying taxes for 25 odd years and now through no fault of my own just gone 14 mths on jobseekers allowance I'm going to be put out to work on this TUS scheme. Meanwhile I could name 2 dozen muppets off the top of my head that have never worked a day in their lives and are more than capable of doing so that are still being ignored or let get away with it.

There is a tiny tiny tiny percentage of people who are the daily mail never worked a day In their lives types. Get people ready for doing jobs that don't even exist is completely moronic. It is nonsense.
Forced labour is not the answer to anything.. All it causes is resentment, jobs that could be created not, as in jobsbridge, the biggest threat to employment there has ever been.... And then the lower level tus... In my view these schemes are so harmful to the jobs market and the economy, to everything..... They do not help society, only harm it, by pretence and by not allowing real jobs to be created. If there is a need for admin to be done, or litter picking, give someone a full time job with rights and privelidges that anyone in full time employment should get, DO NOT exploit threaten or bully people into doing these things. There are loads of people who would love a full time job in admin or litter picking for a decent wage, workers rights and the ability to plan for the future, do not fill such imaginary positions with forced labour. It is sickening

dharma200 wrote: »

Voluntary being the operative word..... Many people are quite happy to pick up litter voluntary..... Forcing people? No.

Whatever you think of the merits of forcing people to pick up litter, forcing people to pretend to do jobs, with. No outcome of employment at the end? It doesn't take a genius to see exactly what this scheme is all about, and it certainly isn't about creating employment or getting people off the dole.... Not by an inch......

I wonder is the aim of the scheme to get people back into the habit of working? There are so many long term unemployed out there, some of whom - if forums are to be believed - have never worked a day in their lives! Is it so wrong to give something back? To show the value of doing something - anything - for their dole?

Voluntary being the operative word..... Many people are quite happy to pick up litter voluntary..... Forcing people? No.

Whatever you think of the merits of forcing people to pick up litter, forcing people to pretend to do jobs, with. No outcome of employment at the end? It doesn't take a genius to see exactly what this scheme is all about, and it certainly isn't about creating employment or getting people off the dole.... Not by an inch......

Such negativity! They are not perfect. Neither is allowing people to make Welfare a lifestyle choice!There is NOTHING wrong with picking up litter. People have been known to do it voluntarily - eg Tidy Towns committee members.

Deleted User wrote: »

Could you give examples, please? Not heresay, but actual first hand ones. I'll start with 2 I know personally. 1 - admin in Carers organisation. 2 - maintaining grounds at a church. Nothing demeaning or inappropriate in those.

Well I am glad you are happy in the role you have with tus. I do t have to give any examples, forced labour using threats doesn't need first hand accounts, it is fundamentally wrong. Enjoy picking up litter and pretending to do admin in a carers organisation, obviously there will be a job at the end of the admin work? Lol.. An actual job I mean, not a big joke.......

Fred Swanson

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dharma200 wrote: »

No, that is not correct atall. Forced labour. The hourly rate you talk about is incorrect. No working rights, no long term employment, being made to do demeaning inappropriate tasks. The whole scheme is fundamentally wrong.
Making out it is well paid etc is just complete nonsense.

Could you give examples, please? Not heresay, but actual first hand ones. I'll start with 2 I know personally. 1 - admin in Carers organisation. 2 - maintaining grounds at a church. Nothing demeaning or inappropriate in those.

Deleted User wrote: »

Taking the above example of a 1 child family, you'd be working for €17.5 per hour. Not to be sneezed at, especially as you keep your secondary benefits of rent allowance, medical card and fuel allowance.

No, that is not correct atall. Forced labour. The hourly rate you talk about is incorrect. No working rights, no long term employment, being made to do demeaning inappropriate tasks. The whole scheme is fundamentally wrong.
Making out it is well paid etc is just complete nonsense.

davlacey wrote: »

yea but stopping money to me is one thing but to stop the whole claim is madness because someone doesnt want to work for 1 euro an hour

Taking the above example of a 1 child family, you'd be working for €17.5 per hour. Not to be sneezed at, especially as you keep your secondary benefits of rent allowance, medical card and fuel allowance.

yea but stopping money to me is one thing but to stop the whole claim is madness because someone doesnt want to work for 1 euro an hour

davlacey wrote: »

ive just got a letter this morning asking if i wanted to participe in the tus programme. is it a case of if you refuse your payment is stopped? im getting a family payment so how would that work?

If you refuse, then your payment might be affected. I'm sure if you tick the NOT INTERESTED box, then you will be required to give acceptable reasons to support your decision.

TBP wrote: »

Just wondering as I might be in the same boat as yourself here but when you say a family payment do you mean you're getting extra for a child or children on top of your dole? I got one of these letters nearly a month or so ago now and have heard nothing since.

A family payment. A typical example would be 1 claim for a household consisting of:

Main claimant - €188
Qualifying Adult ( your spouse ) - €124.80
Each child - €29.80

So for a 1 child family, you are looking at a JA benefit of €342.60 per week ( Assuming your spouse is not working )

A single or family claim makes no difference in replying to the letter sent by the DSP. Irrespective of you situation, you still tick YES or NO.

and how much does it get cut by?

davlacey wrote: »

ive just got a letter this morning asking if i wanted to participe in the tus programme. is it a case of if you refuse your payment is stopped? im getting a family payment so how would that work?

Just answer the letter saying you are willing to participate. There aren't enough places for all the unemployed, so you may not be called. However, if you ignore the letter or say that you're not willing to participate, then unless you have a very good reason, you risk your payment being cut. Contrary to what you read here and elsewhere, not all TUS schemes are a waste. You might be lucky and enjoy the experience, make new friends and contacts.

TBP

davlacey wrote: »

ive just got a letter this morning asking if i wanted to participe in the tus programme. is it a case of if you refuse your payment is stopped? im getting a family payment so how would that work?

Just wondering as I might be in the same boat as yourself here but when you say a family payment do you mean you're getting extra for a child or children on top of your dole? I got one of these letters nearly a month or so ago now and have heard nothing since.

ive just got a letter this morning asking if i wanted to participe in the tus programme. is it a case of if you refuse your payment is stopped? im getting a family payment so how would that work?

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes I have asked my supervisor to stop calling me out of hours and on my private home number which the supervisor picked off my CV, theres also other unnerving,pushy and frankly weird behaviour going on that I am not comfortable with, but I'm glad I confided my concerns to my manager, and he intends to monitor it and consult with his superior if it keeps up.

I'm a very shy person and am no good at standing up for myself (I need to work on this)I have met some of the other supervisors in the organisation and thought they were really sound, I really like my placement but this issue is causing me a lot of worry, I think I'm going to have to take it to TUS themselves even though I'd hate for them to think I'm a troublemaker.

You appear to have done all you can to dissuade the person in question. If it continues, it's harassment, plain and simple. Threaten them with this or go to one of their colleagues, whom you referred to above as "really sound", and report them.

dodzy wrote: »

Did you speak with the Supervisor regarding your concerns ? Reading between the lines, I think I know what you are referring to. If that makes you uncomfortable, then you could head to the Senior Team Leader ( if the Partnership has more that 120 placements allocated, then a Coordinating Supervisor / Teamleader can be appointed ). I would direct my concerns directly to him/her if that was an option ?

Yes I have asked my supervisor to stop calling me out of hours and on my private home number which the supervisor picked off my CV, theres also other unnerving,pushy and frankly weird behaviour going on that I am not comfortable with, but I'm glad I confided my concerns to my manager, and he intends to monitor it and consult with his superior if it keeps up.

I'm a very shy person and am no good at standing up for myself (I need to work on this)I have met some of the other supervisors in the organisation and thought they were really sound, I really like my placement but this issue is causing me a lot of worry, I think I'm going to have to take it to TUS themselves even though I'd hate for them to think I'm a troublemaker.