Young workers rise up for trade unions
New figures revealed by Scotland’s largest trade union body have shown a “stunning” rise in the number of young people joining trade unions.
Using data from the Labour Force Survey, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has revealed that the proportion of employees aged 16-34 in Scotland who were trade union members has risen 12% from 164,571 in 2022 to 186,293 in 2023.
The figures follow nationwide trends in people joining a trade union in Scotland with overall membership soaring to 664,000, a 2.6% increase and the largest membership rise within any nation of the UK.
The news comes ahead of the 84th STUC Youth Conference, with calls for an end to wage discrimination and a halt to cuts to local authorities. Young workers from across Scotland will gather in Clydebank this weekend to call for increased investment in public services and for the scrapping of all previous Tory Government anti-trade union legislation.
STUC General Secretary, Roz Foyer, stated:
“The debates our Youth Conference has coming up over this weekend prove that we’re not short of challenges. But there is reason to be optimistic. Our young members, with recent data showing a stunning 12% rise in trade union membership, aren’t short on ideas about how to achieve better working and living conditions for young workers in Scotland.
“Whether it be challenging bad hospitality bosses, coming together to create worker co-ops, or standing up for our climate and the future of our planet, young workers’ courage and commitment to our cause is irrepressible.
“It’s abundantly clear that we have seen progress in young people taking an active and leading role within our movement. But we cannot rest on our laurels and our Youth Conference this weekend will make clear to those in power that Scotland’s young workers are demanding better.
Josh Morris, Chair of the STUC Youth Committee, stated:
“Over the past year, we’ve seen young workers demonised and derided, whilst we battle an onslaught of bad bosses, precarious work, low wages, cuts to our services, and high housing costs.
“But young workers have refused to back down. We have a new government now and we must hold their feet to the fire and ensure that young workers’ concerns are taken seriously and acted on. We need to scrap the Conservative Party’s anti-union legislation and we need to see an end to precarious work in all its forms.
“Bad bosses must be held to account, and young workers are leading the way, particularly in the hospitality sector, to bring about real change. I’m proud of the work we’ve all done over the last year and hope to see it renewed and continued after this conference.”
ENDS
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