Today members of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union attended a conference sponsored by the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania on "Getting Ready for 2000: The Next Welfare to Work Deadline." While Feather Houston, Pennsylvania Secretary of Welfare spoke, KWRU made its opinion known in dramatic fashion.

Wearing shirts saying "cheap labor, inc," we handed out tongue-in-cheek flyers explaining the "benefits" of welfare reform for the labor market:

"HIRE AT ANY RATE: What we ahve here is a real opportunity for business to reap the benefits of a State-Approved low-wage work force. Cheap Labor, Inc is an "AS IS" group of people on a deadline to get a job, any job!"

"With this deal you get: No need for a union; no need for benefits; and no need for possible advancement. Hours are dusk to dawn, 7 days a week with holidays and overtime included. The workforce of the future, trained as little as possible, can be found at most welfare offices, labor pools and homeless shelters."

In addition to the flyers, KWRU members stood behind the presenters holding signs like "I can't pay rent or feed my kids but my job has so much dignity," "I can't read but put me to work.," and "Soon I'll be working your job for less money."

After Secretary Houston finished speaking, we continued the protest outside the main meeting room, singing and chanting. Our protest was the only independent voice of the poor present in this episode of the ongoing debate about our lives.