Unite backs day of action to defend EMA
13 December 2010
Scrapping school support grant will condemn kids of the
less well off, says union
The general secretary-elect of the country's biggest union,
Unite, has today (Monday) described the coalition's action to scrap
the educational maintenance allowance (EMA) as a malevolent act
that will set back social and educational equality in the UK by
generations.
Len McCluskey further warned that the government's short-sighted
swipe at the benefit, which helps 16-18 year olds stay on at
school, will deny the UK the trained workers it needs to keep pace
as a world economy as thousands of young learners are forced to
drop out of college: "The malevolence in the removal of the EMA is
breath-taking. This benefit has helped to keep hundreds of
thousands of young people from low income households on at school
and able to realise their potential. They should be no less
entitled to a decent education than kids from better off homes so
it is a disgrace that this government is determined to cut so
viciously.
"By denying them this small scale but vital support, the
coalition is denying these children the chance to change their
lives. Progressive Lib Dems will be horrified to be used as
cover for a policy which will set back social mobility, getting in
its stead a half-baked scheme which will not deliver help or funds
to the schools or kids that need them most, and nor will is help UK
ltd which urgently needs a higher skilled workforce.
"Without the EMA, there is now every chance that young people
from low waged families will drift into unemployment or very low
skilled jobs. This is a shocking indictment of this
government - a refusal to invest in our young people is a failure
to invest in all our futures."
Unite members at further education colleges will be showing
support for the young people during today's day of action to defend
the EMA including at Bradford College where there will be a
lunchtime protest outside the college and at Blackpool & the
Fylde College where the college library will be used for a day of
mass petitioning. Unite also supports the dozens of colleges around
the UK where staff and students are demonstrating often with the
support of the college principals and senior teaching staff.
The coalition announced its intention to scrap the EMA during
the comprehensive spending review in October. The EMA is a
means-tested allowance of between £10 and £30, paid to 16-19
year-olds who stay on in education. In 2009/10 635,000 learners
received at least one EMA payment, and some 80 per cent of those
the full £30.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on 07976
832 861
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