Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/691/13031
From The Socialist newspaper, 26 October 2011
Wales takes action to defend young people
"I completely agree - these bankers getting bonuses, while they say EMA is unaffordable." These were the words of an enthusiastic student who met Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) campaigners in Swansea on Saturday 15 October.
In the week that saw youth unemployment hit 991,000, the highest level since records began, YFJ supporters in Swansea campaigned at a local FE college. This was followed up by campaigning as part of an all-Wales day of action in the city centre.
15 YFJ members, supported by two Remploy workers, leafleted and petitioned in the city centre, collecting about 150 signatures.
The mood was very sympathetic. One student told us about how she is only paid £3.60 an hour because she is under 18, which shows why YFJ's demand for a living minimum wage with no youth exemptions is so important.
As a result of the action we have potential new YFJ members and several more were keen to join the Jarrow March for Jobs. We also did an interview with the South Wales Evening Post, who printed an excellent report with photos.
Ben Golightly
Students from across Wales gathered at the steps of the Senedd on Saturday 22 October in protest against cutbacks to the Welsh higher and further education systems.
Edmund Schluessel, who convened the event, said: "It's wrong that the Wales Assembly is cutting the NHS Wales budget. It's just as wrong the Assembly is cutting back on investing in Wales' future by cutting back education.
"If the Welsh government is serious about fighting for the interests of the people it says it represents, it should set a needs budget based on the cost of the public services that working and unemployed Welsh people depend on to get by in life, and hand the bill to Westminster.
"George Osborne can afford it - he just found £75 billion for the banks, after all."
The students met at Cardiff University to discuss a new, united front against education cutbacks with support from universities and colleges across Wales.
Contact: Edmund Schluessel, 07947 214169 and Ross Saunders, 07766 460366
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In The Socialist 26 October 2011:
Fighting back
Capitalism IS crisis - Fight for a socialist alternative
Prepare for N30 - strike and demonstrate!
Hardest Hit demos - thousands march
Events on 5 + 6 November
Join the Jarrow march for jobs & education - 5 November
Join the fightback - come to Socialism 2011
Socialist Party youth and students
Coventry rally - The Jarrow march is on its way!
Wales takes action to defend young people
Socialist Party workplace news
Tax dodging continues while staff face cuts
Construction protests continue and Unite declares strike ballot (report with video)
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Building the fightback and building solidarity at Occupy LSX
Electric support for London anti-cuts challenge
Socialist Party news and analysis
10,000 public sector jobs lost in Wales and counting
International socialist news and analysis
Where now for Libya after the downfall of Gaddafi's regime?
Euro crisis - urgent need to build a socialist alternative
Solidarity appeal: Stop Kazakh state brutality
Socialist Party feature
Free schools - Freedom to privatise education
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