We agree with 1199 President Dennis Rivera, who calls for unions to fight workfare rather than make shortsighted deals. Workfare does not create new jobs. Comparing it with programs like the WPA, which created jobs, is misleading at best. Workfare helps eliminate the full time, full pay, union jobs of workers it replaces. Workfare is a cruel hoax for unemployed people on welfare.
Most workfare participants start out with the hope of a real job.
They do entry-level tasks, or jobs they already know how to do. Lack of safety instruction or equipment put them in danger. Workfare is an excuse to close welfare cases. Hundreds of welfare recipients, including many too sick or disabled to work, suffer improper case closings and grant cuts, problems which will grow as thousands are pushed into workfare in the next few weeks. Families already living below any decent minimum will be forced to share their poverty with relatives or be out in the cold.