UNITE spreads the word about young workers rights
In the past week UNITE Secretary Anthony Main spoke at two large seminars at the Victoria University (VU). Both were organised by VU, as part of the curriculum, to let students know about their rights at work.
At the first seminar, held at the Newport campus, over 60 VCAL students and apprentices packed the auditorium to hear Troy McGuiness from the postal workers union (CWU), and Anthony speak about the problems facing young workers.
Troy focused on young people’s rights at work and John Howard’s IR laws while Anthony spoke about other issues facing young people at work including youth wages, casualisation and bullying. The discussion that followed was at a very high level with excellent questions being asked, especially by the apprentices.
At the second seminar, held at the Footscray campus, again over 60 students packed a classroom to here two representatives from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) and Anthony speak about issues facing young workers.
The DEWR reps gave an overview of the IR legislation and focused in particular on the changes resulting from Howard’s recent changes to the laws. Anthony spoke from a very different point of view about the main issues facing young people and the problems with individual contracts (AWAs).
On both occasions students were keen to get more information about UNITE and several asked how they could join or volunteer to help UNITE’s campaigns. The fact that UNITE organisers have been invited to many universities, TAFEs and secondary schools over the past year is an indication of the relevance and importance of our work to young people.
If you would like a UNITE speaker to come to your school, university, TAFE, workplace or community group call our office on 93281555.