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| Youth week - the future of the trade union movement (2) |  |
October 30 has been declared the world day of action for young workers. The ICFTU and the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) are marking the day with a series of initiatives to be carried out in over 100 countries, aimed at promoting the rights of young people at the workplace. ICFTU OnLine, the ICFTU’s dispatch service, will distribute articles throughout the week on the situation of young workers. To join the campaign, see the new Youth page on this site.
Trade unionism versus life on the streetBrussels, November 02, 1998 (ICFTU OnLine): "In my sector, chemicals, there is a lot of pressure on workers to leave the union, failing which they will be blocked for promotion" explains Gladys Mthembu, 30, secretary of the women’s league and the youth organiser in Johannesburg for the chemical workers’ union (SACWU). "This intimidation is against our labour laws and the trade unions are constantly denouncing it, but the fact is that trade union membership is falling". Intimidation at the workplace, record youth unemployment, street children... there are a lot of problems to tackle.
"The biggest problem facing young people in South Africa is unemployment, which affects about 65 per cent of them. Most are well educated but employers want experience. Many young people would like to belong to a trade union, but because they don’t have a job, they don’t have the money to pay their membership". Another big problem is that of young pregnancies. "Many young girls find themselves bringing up their child on their own and it is even harder for them to find work. There is a crying need for information. That is why the trade union is organising sex education courses in schools and universities. We talk to them about Aids, for example. We also use these courses in schools to talk to young people about the trade union movement, so that they are aware of what it is about before they join the labour market. We also try to help street children, through direct intervention in the townships. The union is not able to give them work but, for example, by supporting sporting activities, especially football teams, we try to get them away from drugs, delinquency and all the other dangers of life on the streets."
International Confederation of Free Trade
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please contact: Luc Demaret on: 00 322 224 0212 - press@icftu.org