Seamus Smyth, East Midlands Socialist Party youth organiser
Over the summer, young socialists in the East Midlands have been campaigning against the cost-of-living crisis.
In Northampton, youth unemployment is considered low – 2.4%. But on our campaign stalls, young people have told us of their frustration around precarious employment, and the lack of decent working hours, terms and conditions.
While most young people are in work, there’s been a huge increase of Universal Credit claimants. One person came up to our stall anxious about the fact that they need to find another job, on top of the one that they already have, just to keep afloat. Like everywhere else in the country, this is becoming the norm.
In Leicester, youth unemployment is slowly rising. In a pitiful response, Leicester City Council – which is controlled by Labour – has forced cuts to essential youth employment services, such as the ‘Get Inspired Youth Employment Hub’, even though the council has over £200 million in reserves.
Young Socialists campaigns to end job insecurity and low pay. We have meetings every fortnight in Leicester city centre.
We’re also campaigning throughout the rest of the region, linking young workers in building a mass campaign which fights for decent pay, jobs and homes for all. And the way to permanently win those things is to fight for a socialist transformation of society.
