Unite leads protest outside Ministry of Justice
17 June 2010
Unite calling note: protest outside Ministry of
Justice
When: Friday 18 June, 2010 at 4.30pm
Where: Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France,
Westminster, SW1H 9AJ
Unite will lead a protest outside the Ministry of Justice
on 18th June over the government's refusal to provide a relatively
small amount of money to bail out Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ)
which has gone into administration resulting from the failings in
the Legal Services Commission's funding regime. Government could
choose to save it.
A high profile list of speakers will be addressing the
demonstration.
RMJ - the largest provider of specialist legal advice for asylum
seekers and other vulnerable migrants in England and Wales - went
into administration on June 16, 2010 and will be closing its doors
for the last time next Wednesday.
Ahead of the budget next week, Unite believes that George
Osborne could have revealed what was meant by "compassionate
Conservatism" by saving RMJ. The jobs of over 300 solicitors, legal
advisers and staff, and the plight of up to 10,000 vulnerable
adults, including 900 children will be affected by the government's
decision. Many of RMJ’s clients will face being returned to
countries where they face persecution and where their lives will be
put in danger.
Rachael Maskell, Unite national officer, said: "We now
understand the value that this government puts on charities and the
most disadvantaged in our communities, they simply turn their back
and walk away. They don't care that many refugees and migrants will
lose their vital support from professional advisers and will simply
be returned to the countries they fled from as they came to seek
safety in the UK."
"With the budget just days away, George Osborne could save this
organisation. Government has a simple choice, they could walk away
or show that they really value charities and will help them to play
their role in the ‘Big Society’.
"The workforce who are more concerned for their clients than
themselves will also be cast aside, adding nearly 350 more people
to the unemployed list."
ENDS
For further details please contact Rachael Maskell, Unite national
officer, community and non profit sector: 07768 693933 or Ciaran
Naidoo on 07768 931 315
Notes to editors
- RMJ used to get paid monthly, but is now only paid after each
case is closed – many cases last many months or even years.
No charity can be expected to wait that long for payment and many
law centres are finding it difficult to cope with the new payment
system. David Cameron’s claims to value the work of charities
rings very hollow indeed.
- RMJ (formerly the Refugee Legal Centre) was founded in 1992 and
in the last year alone has helped over 11,000 people. Closure
would mean that up to 10,000 vulnerable people will be left without
legal representation, including 900 children. Many will face
being returned to countries where they face persecution and their
lives are in danger.
- So far the Ministry of Justice has declined to help RMJ.
Unite is calling for RMJ to be saved and for proper legal aid
funding to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society have
real access to justice.
- Cuts in public spending are affecting the poorest people right
across our society. But these people did not cause the
economic crisis and should not be made to pay for it. This
government has the choice to support the most marginalised people
in our society or face asylum chaos.
Unite, the union which represents RMJ’s 340 staff, has called a
demonstration outside the Ministry of Justice at 4.30pm on Friday,
18th June 2010.
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