ICFTU ONLINE...
239/981030./DD
Young workers take action to mark Youth Day of Action
Brussels October 30 1998 (ICFTU OnLine): IUSY member organisations and ICFTU-affiliated trade unions are using the Day of Action to raise awareness about young workers’ rights. Actions range from seminars and media campaigns to demonstrations expressing solidarity with young workers. Some highlights include:
Europe: in Germany, JUSOS are organising events highlighting cross-border organising between Swedish, Danish and German trade unions, and in Italy, Sinistra Giovanile will raise awareness of new forms of employment, encouraging trade unions to organise workers in new fields. Young Bulgarian workers will launch a media campaign encouraging youth participation in the labour movement.
Israel, young workers are planning a campaign to defend the rights of young women workers.
In Africa, in Gabon ICFTU affiliates and IUSY members are working together
In Latin America: in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, and Peru, local branches of ICFTU affiliates, are working with IUSY members, and in Venezuela, the ICFTU and the IUSY are organising a demonstration for young workers in the capitol, with expected attendance of over 30,000 people.
In Scandinavia members of the IUSY and trade unions are working together, for example in Denmark, they are informing students about their workplace rights, as well as holding a torch-march for victims of workers rights' violations.
Asia and the Pacific: ICFTU affiliates and IUSY members are acting together in India, New Zealand the Philippines and South Korea, to stress that employment campaigns and economic development programmes must not sacrifice basic standards and organising rights
United States and Canada, the DSA Youth Section and the New Democratic Youth of Canada, and young members of ICFTU affiliates are holding demonstrations and teach-ins about the struggle of young workers to form democratic unions in Mexico.
Websites: The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has chosen the Young Workers' Day of Action to launch its new "Youth" page on its website. The page, which is in English, French and Spanish, can be found via the "Contents" section, under "Youth". FIET are also marking the day with the launch of their youth website, which can be found on the FIET site : www.fiet.org under Youth.
Trade Union World: the November edition of the ICFTU's monthly magazine carries a special survey on young workers.
International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions (ICFTU)
Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 155, B - 1210 Brussels, Belgium. For more information
please contact: Luc Demaret on: 00 322 224 0212 - press@icftu.org