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We have come to the realization that, organizing and empowering young workers is the best way to invest in the future of Trade Unions and to achieve sustainability for the strengthening of Unions.

It is an undisputable fact that young people across the globe are facing unprecedented challenges like soaring Unemployment, Precarious Jobs, Insecurity, Deprivation and Poor conditions of Service for young workers. This situation has been worsened by the global economic crisis.

Young people are not empowered to confront these daunting challenges unless the Trade Union Movement focuses on the organization of young workers as an imperative that could change the trend of disproportionate impact of unemployment on young workers and then create opportunities for equal rights to decent jobs.

Many young people have limited access to Trade Union coverage and as a result, are unaware of their basic labour rights and the important role Unions play in the workplace and society.

These problems should form the basis for the development of youth policy which would be geared towards building the capacity of the youth for them to better understand the values and importance of Trade Unions such as the promotion and protection of the rights of young workers including the right to Collective Bargaining, Social Protection and decent work.

Young workers form a special group of employees who require secured employment, access to learning opportunities at the workplace, equal rights and opportunities at workplace for young women workers to balance the demands for higher productivity with the social and biological obligations imposed on them. Young workers seek platforms to engage with colleagues and employers on the experiences gained in the world of work and to debate on pertinent issues that affect their welfare.

The interest of young workers in the affairs of the union could be sustained if opportunities are created for them to direct their energies on values of decent work and secured employment and this constitute a good way to build a strong trade union movement.

The involvement of young people in trade unions would be mutually beneficial to the trade unions and young workers. The future of Trade unions lies in the activism of young workers and young workers stand to benefit from the use of their collective strength to protect their interest. On the other hand, youth in pursuit of acquiring leadership skills and collective responsibility have an important role to play to justify the need to be incorporated and protected by Trade Unions. Moreover, young people must show interest and actively involve themselves in union activities.

We must cultivate the spirit of volunteerism in pursuit of leadership skills; capacity building, equal rights and equal opportunities to enable us build upon our skills as well as uncover new opportunities.

The survival of Trade Union Movements in future depends on organizing and empowering the young workers today and Trade Unions must discard the notion that young workers should be given less than full and equal rights or be seen as a group that needs only to be persuaded with catchy slogans, recreational activities etc rather than answer to the basic needs of young workers which should be at the core of the trade unions’ agenda.

On this International Youth Day, we the Youth Committee Members of UNI Africa would like to congratulate UNI Africa youth as well as the UNI Global Union Youth for their tremendous efforts to be part of the solution for discrimination against the youth which is making them more vulnerable and limiting the opportunities for the youth to meet their social, cultural and economic needs.

International Youth Day Message by:

Ms. ELIZABETH AMA DENYOH, UNI AFRICA YOUTH PRESIDENT