Young Unionists Network: National Day of Action- Youth Rates Suck
UNITE wholeheartedly supports YUN’s upcoming National Day of Action against youth rates in Melbourne on November 21st, 1pm at the State Library.
The concept of youth rates is nothing more than discrimination on the basis of age. The simple reason that bosses pay young workers such low wages is to cut costs in order to boost profits.
The arguments used by bosses to pay young people less than a full wage are the same as the arguments used by bosses in the past in favour of paying women less than men. It was only through organising women into unions and fighting that we achieved equal pay for women. A similar fight needs to be waged today by young people.
In the past (and in some cases still today) many migrant and indigenous workers were only paid one third of the wage of their white co-workers. This was changed by both white workers, migrant workers and indigenous workers sticking together and fighting for decent pay. Workers unity is the key to ending wage discrimination.
Youth rates hurt all workers because the lowest wage in a labour market determines all other wages. This means that adults are more likely to be forced into accepting lower wages if they know that the boss could employ a young worker for less. The long-term end result is lower wages for all workers.
If we stick together we can win the abolition of youth rates. A win for young workers is a win for all workers!
A UNITE organiser and a young UNITE rank-and-file activist will be speaking at the rally in Melbourne on November 21st, 1pm at the State Library. We encourage all our members and supporters to come along!
For more information on the National Day of Action visit:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148179562671
For more information of youth wages visit:
http://www.unite.org.au/2008/03/30/students-rights-at-work-youth-wages/
