How trade unions can reach out to young people

By Cat Smith / @cateysmith

Unite’s Len McCluskey extended the hand of solidarity from the trade unions to the student movement in today’s Guardian. Recognising the political awakening of young people and students could be just what our trade unions need, but it might not be as easy as McCluskey thinks. I hope that we find a way to unite what in reality it two generations fighting for the same things, but there’s going to be suspicion on both sides.

Being the children of Thatcher/Major many of us are not sure what we think of trade unions, and would probably admit we know very little. The chances are we don’t carry a trade union membership card in our wallets not because of any ideological difference, but a psychological barrier which has built up through negative media portrayal of trade unions. We think ‘trade unions’ and we think an RMT picket-line of middle-aged, white men. Some might say this is a fair portrayal but it’s one we need to break down. There are plenty of younger and more ‘diverse’ trade unionists that could come forward and speak to the university occupation groups, students’ unions and other anti-fees groups.

The second thing we need is an education. Our university education has been fantastic for passing exams but as a generation we do not know our own Labour Movement history. Except maybe the Miners’ Strike and then your bias is probably based on where you grew up in the country. It would be very helpful for trade unions to work with youth organisations like Compass Youth and Young Labour as well as our more organic groups in universities to explain our working-class history.

The important thing we do seem to get is solidarity. We understand we are inheriting the legacy that the ‘old politics’ has left us with, growing up into a society burdened with increasing inequality between rich and poor. We recognise that slashing our education funding is not just smashing our own personal dreams, but also it is reinforcing social class boundaries. The banners we made carried the message that £9,000 fees confine future generations to a life based on how much money their parents have and not the talents they have. I was honoured to be asked to speak to the CWU Keep the Post Public rally in Westminster Central Hall last week where I hope my main message came across; young people do recognise that fees are part of a bigger picture; privatisation is an attack on working people in this country.

If we can bring together a new coalition between trade unions and young people we will be stronger than either of us ever could be alone. We need to continue to provide a resistance to greedy tax dodgers, and stand in solidarity with public sector workers being consigned to the unemployment scrap heap. As young people we know what unemployment means; 19.8% of 16-24 year olds are unemployed. We want to see our progressive alternative for a society based on supporting public services, investing in young people and stopping the planet burning.

We are the young people who are going to join with our older trade union sisters and brothers in the fight against the cuts, and for a fairer and more equal society.

Cat Smith is the National Chair of Compass Youth