On the day that the latest youth unemployment figures are released, John McDonnell MP and FBU general secretary Matt Wrack will be speaking at a press conference about the restaging of the Jarrow march
This Wednesday, 16 March, at 11am near parliament, Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) will hold a press conference to launch its march for jobs from Jarrow to London, following in the footsteps of the Jarrow march for jobs 75 years ago.
This will coincide with the release of the latest set of unemployment figures, which are expected to show youth unemployment topping 1 million.
As well as talking about the planned march, college students and unemployed young people will be speaking about their conditions and why they’re fighting back.
Ben Robinson, Chair of Youth Fight for Jobs, said: “Iain Duncan Smith has resorted to fiddling the figures to try and hide youth unemployment – but young people know the reality.
“This is the last desperate play from a government that have not done anything to alleviate youth unemployment.
“Instead they are slashing jobs and attacking access to education, a recipe for millions more to join the dole queue.”
“We are recreating the Jarrow march on the 75th anniversary, when 200 unemployed workers marched 250 miles on parliament, demanding jobs and the right to a decent living.
“This march took place at the height of the depression of the thirties, but young people today face a return to the same conditions. We will set off on 1 October, a day before the start of the Conservative conference, and arrive in London five weeks later on 5 November.
“We are calling on the anti-cuts movement, student activists, trade union members and unemployed workers to support our march.”
Youth Fight for Jobs was launched in January 2009 to combat the effects of the recession on young people. It is supported by Unite, RMT, PCS, CWU, UCU, Bectu and many local trade union and student union groups.
To contact YFJ to arrange interviews or for further information, please contact
020 8558 7947
07969 119 216
PO BOX 858, London, E11 1YG
