Amended Motion 24
Young Workers & FE Cuts
“That this Congress believes that skills are integral to a successful industrial strategy and the Scottish Government must increase resources for training and skills development, including more and better-quality apprenticeships, to deliver a pathway to skilled, sustainable employment.
“Congress recognises that young workers, including apprentices, are among the lowest paid.
“Congress believes that young workers should not have to shoulder the burden for austerity and cuts and that strong unions are the best way to safeguard pay levels for all workers, including young workers.
“Congress believes that the Scottish Government should restore funding and parity of esteem to the Further Education (FE) sector and commit to work with employers to reinstate the relationship between FE and local employers, building routes for working-class young people and adult returners, into meaningful employment across a range of trades.
“Congress is concerned that there have been ongoing, significant cuts to FE, disproportionately impacting working-class communities.
“Congress is also concerned that many employers are not investing in training or working with the Scottish Government and FE providers to help fund courses they would benefit from in the longer term.
“Congress, therefore, calls upon the General Council to:
- campaign for the Scottish Government to deliver more and better apprenticeships;
- promote union membership to young workers;
- share examples of young workers taking part in strike action and organising for better pay;
- produce a guide to industrial action and organise training sessions for young workers who may not have taken part in industrial action previously;
- campaign against discriminatory minimum wage rates for young workers and apprentices; and
- campaign for the Scottish Government to work with employers, unions, colleges and schools to establish regional pre-apprenticeship programmes providing tailored, hands-on training for young people, aged 16 to 18, and building clear and sustainable pathways for well-paid careers in our trades and manufacturing sector.”
Mover: Unite the Union
Seconder: GMB Scotland
RSS