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Youth Fight for Jobs Northern Ireland launched in Belfast
Neil Moore
Almost one in five 18-24 years olds in Northern Ireland are not in education, training nor employment. However, the launch of Youth Fight for Jobs Northern Ireland (YFJNI) on Saturday 12 May brought together trade unionists and young people from both sides of the sectarian divide, to fight for jobs, homes and free education.
The gig and rally in Belfast featured live music from local acts such as Desperate Breakfast and Belfast hip-hop group Mindesigns.
'Steps to workfare'
Tiarnán Millar, from the youth committee of NIPSA, Northern Ireland's biggest trade union, said how his mother worked in a local department store for 14 years. She was given one week's notice to be replaced by three young people forced to work for their dole on the 'Steps to Work' scheme.
Ian Pattison, an organiser for YFJ in England and Wales said how the trebling of university fees and scrapping of EMA in England has cut off many working class young people from further and higher education.
Mental health
Ann Orr, a young call centre worker and CWU trade union member stated how the economic crisis was affecting young workers' mental health, especially those who have no choice but to go on temporary contacts under terrible conditions in call centres. This has seen a skyrocketing rate of severe depression with some young workers taking their own lives.
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