More people, more power! How to attract young people in the Union based on the SUC experience

Introducción

What is our reality?

Unions today are not trendy!

Young workers do not understand the importance and the meaning unions due to the lack of knowledge and information. While growing up, studying and preparing themselves to enter the labour market, they do not hear at all (or enough) about the possible problems at work, employment agreements, collective bargaining agreements, work and rest hours, social security, tax obligations and other workplace-related issues. Young workers do not hear anything about unions.

Unfortunately, almost all workers at some point in their working life will learn about those issues – they do not have social security, they can’t take sick leave, there is no maternity / paternity leave, they work much more than it is prescribed by law, their salaries are extremely low, there is no collective bargaining agreement, there are no occupational safety and health rights...

What can we do about it?

We can’t wait for others to educate young people on what we – unions – do and can do. We have to go there – to schools and workplaces, or to any other place where future workers are so that we can:

- Educate young people about unions;

- Listen to young workers about their needs; and

- Show young workers what solidarity really means!

Introducción a la historia

All around the world unions struggle with union members being older workers with no transition in place for new generations of workers. I see this as a global union problem.

It is important that we start thinking about how to change this and how to make sure that unions are attractive for new generations of transport workers. Because unions need all workers, regardless of age.

One of the ways that we can do that is to simply go and ask young workers what they want from a union! And that is what we did. We try to adapt to our (future) members’ new needs to help them find and keep their place in the (maritime) industry.

The photos will show what we did over the last seven years, after many discussions with maritime students and young seafarers regarding what would be useful for them.

Reflexiones

I used my personal experience in my home union organising young seafarers. I hope my story can give some ideas to others who are facing similar problems with organising young transport workers.

I would like to say to everyone that we need to be optimistic and hopeful. We need to listen to our members and colleagues to hear what their needs are, and we need to work together to make sure that no worker is left behind and that we all have decent working and living conditions. From my personal experience, that really works. We just need to be persistent and never give up!

Mis próximos pasos

I want to continue exploring how we can “popularise” unions among young people. I hope that I will hear ideas from others to further develop our youth programme and to make sure that unions will be around for many years to come.