Diary Wednesday 22nd March 2017

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An awful day weather wise and in content, especially after Tuesday was so great. It was the day of what was presented to me as a pre-course interview at a job centre masquerading as a college at which I would find out more about the American contact centre I’m to be trained up for working for prior to being interviewed by them. I was criticised for not bringing documentation with me even though I was never asked to bring a letter from my welfare officers but as I was leaving on being told they couldn’t enrol me without it they suddenly found it had been faxed directly to them by my advisor. I wanted to know what I would be trained to do, who the company are, what they do, etc. I was told that it would all be explained on my first day they gave me forms to sign to book myself on the mandatary four day course. My benefits can be stopped if I fail to attend or complete it. I discovered that completing the course opens only an interview by the company running it and tht it is useless to applying for any other work. Also if they choose to employ me I’ll be expected to work weekends from 7 am. I pointed out that no buses could get me to work at that time on Sundays or bank holidays. I was told only to talk to the bosses bout that at my post-course interview. I am therefore on course that is just a conscription channel for a job I am likely to be rejected for or fired from very early on just to make up numbers with very little company information or opportunity to present reasons why I might find the role problematic. Welfare will treat me as if I am employed as far as their stats are concerned and the course will claim to be popular when it is forcing people into its classes on a threat to terminate benefits. I went to the job club after being forced onto this course which fortunately hits me in a week with no voluntary work to do, but I dread the job offer at the end of it as it could cause me problems with welfare, ignore my reservations and transportation obstacles, and conflict with my booked weekend away over Easter too. Sickening. Arthur Chappell