Young workers: standing up for their rights

The young workers’ programme was set up after the last ITF congress in Durban, South Africa, held in 2006. There, the Mongolian Transport, Communications and Petroleum Workers’ Union a put forward a proposal calling on the ITF to organise activities to encourage more young people – workers up to the age of 35 – to become involved in the trade union movement. The aim of the project is to make the work of the ITF more relevant to young people by involving them in planning activities. This website, along with the creation of a task group of young trade unionists, is part of this initiative.

To find out more about the ITF’s work with young people, email: young@itf.org.uk

The young workers’ website
The website features a blog with postings on workplace problems that young workers face as well as information on topics identified as big issues for young people by trade unionists who responded to an ITF survey. These include:

• wages and a two-tier workforce – young workers can often be paid less than older workers, creating two levels of pay depending on age; young workers are also more likely than older workers to receive the minimum wage
  
  
• precarious work – work undertaken by young people can lack job security as they are more likely to be employed on a temporary basis, especially if work is outsourced
  
  
• trade union rights – many young workers may not be unionised particularly if they are employed on a casual or temporary basis, which means they won’t be able to exercise their trade union rights
  
  
• organising, campaigning, education – young people are the future of the trade union movement so it is important that they are educated about the labour movement and are organised into trade unions.