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From The Socialist newspaper, 13 June 2012
Youth Fight for Jobs national meeting:
Organising the 'lost generation'
Helen Pattison
Youth Fight for Jobs national meeting 10 June 2012, photo Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
On 10 June 50 young trade unionists, unemployed people and students from all over the UK attended a national meeting of Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ).
Speakers included Brandon Madsen from Minneapolis involved with the Occupy Homes campaign against home foreclosures. Occupy Homes has already seen victories by keeping some people in their homes.
With the Young Londoners Forced-Out Campaign recently launched by YFJ to highlight the housing problems facing young people in the capital, the discussion focused on the housing benefit cuts and the Olympics which are both going to be responsible for rising homelessness among young people.
Youth Fight for Jobs national meeting 10 June 2012, photo Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Several people came into the discussion describing their personal experiences of workfare and how these schemes destroy jobs and drive down the rights of workers as well as exploiting young people.
YFJ played a leading role organising protests outside many of the shops using workfare which won some small changes to the more oppressive aspects of one of the schemes.
Helen Pattison, Leeds Socialist Party and Youth Fight for Jobs, photo by Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
During the afternoon session the meeting discussed organising the campaign, giving activists a chance to report back on some impressive campaigning in their areas.
Plans were made for the TUC demo in October where YFJ will be involved in organising a youth contingent, linking together the struggles of workers and young people in the fight for decent jobs and a future.
There was also in-depth discussion of the recently produced YFJ manifesto. A future for the 99% outlines what YFJ stands for as well as campaigning tips. This will be launched at YFJ's 'Austerity Games' on 23 July.
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In The Socialist 13 June 2012:
Socialist Party news and analysis
No to austerity! - Turn anger into action
NSSN conference agrees call for one-day general strike against austerity
Leveson: contradictions and a crisis of credibility
No to local government pensions deal
The class divide in elderly care
Socialist Party youth and students
Youth Fight for Jobs national meeting
From pillar to post: reassessment for ESA
Super-rich Beecroft targets workers' rights
International socialist news and analysis
Spain: bank bailout can't stop Euro death-spiral
Wisconsin Recall: Democrats paved the way for Walker's victory
Kazakhstan: Oil workers jailed by rotten regime
International day of support for political prisoners in Iran
Threat from far-right in Greece: Time to build defence committees
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Tamil protest scores victory as Rajapaksa cancels speaking engagement
Bolton Uni: Reinstate Shana Begum!
Olympic's sponsor exploits workers
Socialist Party workplace news
Sheffield recycling centre strikers supported by 90% of public
Council admin workers in Kirklees strike against cuts
Olympics - a fair deal for transport workers
Coryton refinery closure protests
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