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From The Socialist newspaper, 5 October 2021
Fighting for our future
- £15-an-hour minimum wage
- End zero-hour contracts
- Trade union rights
Young Socialists on the march 26 June 2021 (Click to enlarge)
Damian Cosgrove, Youth Fight for Jobs East Midlands
During the pandemic, nearly two-thirds of job losses hit young workers. While some misleadingly claim the 'post-Covid recovery' is reversing this, the sad truth is that, with the end of furlough and the decline in seasonal work, the job market is looking increasingly grim for young workers.
Contrary to the propaganda of the right-wing press, my generation is not one of 'work-shyness'. In my experience the opposite is true; there have been times when I have spent hours applying endlessly for work, only to end up in another insecure job with little scope for permanent employment, let alone progression.
We are a generation hit with huge levels of student debt, the highest rent costs in history, a tragically low minimum wage, a borderline-criminal apprentice wage, and a work pattern that is so chaotic that it is no surprise that a recent study found nearly half of all workers are close to burnout.
My experience of insecure service jobs has motivated me to get involved in the relaunch of the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign. Often the conversations around job creation consist of some establishment figures discussing which of our few workers' rights can be thrown out of the window to encourage some corporation to give out a few zero-hour contract jobs. We think it's about time job creation became something to empower people rather than exploit people. To put it simply, the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign is about the right to dignified work.
Dignified work means an end to poverty wages and dodgy contracts, the creation of real apprenticeships with guaranteed work for anyone who wants it, and the opportunity to have a meaningful voice in the workplace.
In many workplaces, workers' rights are treated as optional and are constantly undermined. That is why we need to get organised in the trade unions to fight back and stand up to the bosses. This is why Youth Fight for Jobs links young workers with the existing trade unions - to fight for decent jobs for a new generation of workers.
- Join Youth Fight for Jobs protests 9 October
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- We must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 5 October 2021:
What we think
Bakers' union disaffiliates from Labour
News
Sarah Everard trial reveals police abuse of power
Tories plunge millions further into poverty with Universal Credit cut
Railway bosses cook the books in another capitalist market failure
Glasgow's equal pay battle set to re-erupt
Pay NHS and care staff to address worker shortages
Workplace news
NEU: National executive agrees campaign on pay
Coordinated FE strike against measly pay offer
Unison LG members reject insulting pay offer
Unite health members say no to 3% and vote for action
Tesco warehouse rep fighting for reinstatement
Scunthorpe steel scaffolders strike for pay rise
Brighton waste workers walk out
Economy
Capitalism's economic instability in the 'new normal'
Youth Fight for Jobs
Youth Fight for Jobs - why we're marching on 9 October
Ten years since our 330-mile Jarrow March for Jobs
Campaigns news
Barking NHS: "Sorry, please try again later"
We have the right to breathe fresh air
Nottingham: Punish Labour for cruel cuts
London protest for Texas abortion rights
North West socialists join march against Tory conference
Fighting Fund target smashed - £31,703 raised
Obituary
Obituary - Dave Hardaker, 1952-2021
Review
Caffeine and capitalism - a symbiotic relationship
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2021