Youth Fight for Jobs takes up fight for this generation’s future
Young people organise a ‘March for jobs’ against job losses, fees and a lack of opportunities at G20, 2 April
Sean Figg, national organiser for the Youth Fight for Jobs, says “Unlike Mps a ‘second home’ is an extravagance well beyond the means of the vast majority of people. Thousands are struggling to hold on to just one home as repossessions soar. Young people in most cases can’t even get on the property ladder and with the lack of decent paying jobs can barley afford to rent. How can young people expect any understanding from scrounging politicians who have every whim provided for?”
“No wonder there seems to be no political will to move beyond the status quo at the G20 this week. If the status quo involves pocketing £100,000+ why would you rock the boat? We hear lots of lofty rhetoric about ‘reforming’ markets and ‘regulating’ banks but not one concrete proposal to help ordinary people.”
“In contrast Youth Fight for Jobs demands the full nationalisation of the banking sector. That the account books of the banks and failing companies be made public so that workers staring into the abyss can see where the profits of the ‘boom years’ have gone. Government should step in and nationalise failing businesses to safeguard the livelihoods of workers and young people.”
“Our campaign calls for the right to a decent job, for training to gain skills, and for the right of all young people to got to university without student debt. That’s why we are marching on 2 April”
The numbers of unemployed has exceeded 2 million and will climb to well in excess of 3 million by the end of 2009. Unemployment amongst 18-24 year olds stands at 15%. This is more than twice the national average and the highest of any age group. This is before hundreds of thousands of school leavers, college leavers and graduates enter the jobs market in the summer.
Youth Fight for Jobs will be launched through a ‘March for Jobs’, in the tradition of the Jarrow Marchers, to the G20 on 2 April. Unemployed youth, young workers, graduates, school leavers and more will march past four of the poorest boroughs in London, assembling outside the GLA building at 11am [please note change of starting point], marching past the Bank of England, marching to a rally at Mile End park and finishing with a closing rally at the G20 meeting at the ExCel Centre.
The Youth Fight for Jobs campaign has gained the support of prominent activists since its launch in mid-January. Bob Crow*, RMT general secretary, Chris Kitchen, NUM General Secretary, Janice Godrich, PCS President, Glenn Kelly, Unison NEC, workers who took unofficial action at the Lindsey Oil Refinery and won a victory, and young people involved in the Prisme workplace occupation in Dundee and many others (all in personal capacity except*).
