On the offensive

TUC Frances O’Grady highlighted today (September 12) the importance of reaching out to young workers in a revitalised movement which places the concerns of the next generation of trade unionists at its heart. 

 

She warned on the second day of the TUC conference that at present only 11 per cent of low- and middle-income workers 30 and under are members of a trade union. As the group least likely to benefit from trade union membership, young people have suffered attack after attack from both their employers and the government. 

 

At no time was this attack made more blatant than last year, when the government introduced what it called a “National Living Wage” but excluded people under 25 — a shameless broadside against the otherwise esteemed notion of ‘equal pay for equal work.’ 

 

O’Grady accepted that, although they have made great advances over the last few years, trade unions have still not done enough to make their work relevant to young people. She affirmed the importance of ensuring that the trade union movement not only reaches out to young workers but is one that is actually led by young workers. 

 

O’Grady was joined on stage by a group of young delegates, including Unite hotel branch member Sophie Shaw, who is a waitress at the Dorchester Hotel. 

 

Shaw explained that it is especially important for young workers to be part of a trade union because “we are the most exploited and easily disposable to employers”. 

 

“We’ve got to grow the trade union movement for the future,” she added. “We all know that unionised workplaces have higher pay and better conditions and give you dignity in your job. But so many young workers don’t know this.”

 

Shaw explained how young hotel and restaurant workers were joined by activists across the UK in Unite’s successful Fair Tips campaign, which not only pressured many restaurants into changing their tipping policies by dropping charges on credit card tips but also led to a government consultation which could hasten an actual change in the law. 

 

“This campaign showed me how much power we actually have,” she said. “It highlighted the real benefits of being in a trade union and how it can make serious positive changes in people’s lives and how it is a force for good in society. 

 

“I want to be involved in the movement and I want the movement to actively choose to involve young people like me,” Shaw added. 

Unite young member and hotel worker Chris Trestrail (pictured), who also joined O’Grady and young delegates on stage, agreed. 

 

He explained how young members were front and centre in another successful Unite campaign against Sports Direct’s work practices. 

 

“We thought to ourselves, ‘Maybe we can’t do this’,” he explained. “We were pushed into the deep end as young members.

 

“But we were supported so well by Unite and put into leading roles,” Trestrail noted. “We’ve organised national picket lines at Sports Direct stores, we’ve organised social media campaigns and we have not let up — we have pushed and pushed and pushed.”

 

As a result of their efforts, Unite won back pay for workers and Sports Direct last week announced it would change many of its working practices, as well as end zero hours contracts for retail staff. 

 

“But we’re not stopping just after getting them off zero hours contracts,” Trestrail explained. “We’re pushing to now get into the workplace and organise the workers and keep going forward till we get membership in there. And we’re not going to just stop at Sports Direct; we’re going to keep going forward into other workplaces as well. 

 

“We’re sick of just fighting back — now we’re on the offensive.”