Young Workers

General elections were held in Spain on 20 November 2011, (five months ahead of the normal date) in the midst of a social climate marked by high unemployment (in excess of 20% overall and almost 50% for the under 25s) and the progressive dismantling of basic services. The socialist party PSOE, which had been in power since 2004, was unseated by the neo-liberal conservative Partido Popular, which secured an absolute majority in parliament.

The new government wasted no time in implementing its reform programme and, emboldened by its strong parliamentary majority, embarked on a brutal reform of the labour legislation without consulting the social partners. The new legislation, passed at the beginning of February, gives employers huge powers to dismiss employees at a very low cost, as well as undermining working conditions by removing the obligation to comply with collective agreements.

Young people are the hardest hit by the labour reform, which excludes them from the groups benefiting from subsidised employment schemes and permits highly precarious contractual arrangements for people up to age 33.

The government’s refusals to submit the content of the reform to social dialogue gave rise to a series of protests, such as the mass demonstrations of 19 February and 11 March. The level of social protest reached a peak on 29 March, when the main trade unions CCOO and UGT held the first general strike under the current government. The nationwide strike and demonstrations held on 29 March were hugely successful, with millions of people backing the stoppage and voicing their protest on the streets. The action drew large support from young people.

The government has now been called on to heed the demands of its people and the strength of the workers. Trade union organisations are proposing concrete alternatives to promote economic growth, social justice and employment. We are also determined to keep up the fight until the new government abandons its neoliberal policy focused on cutbacks in public spending and social rights.

Resembling a traditional graduation ceremony, the 126 graduates of three courses, Finishing Course for Call Center Agents (FCCCA) National Certificate (NC) II, Housekeeping NC II and Pinoy Hilot/Wellness Massage NC II, were formally presented to proud parents, trainers and TUCP officials. “It feels good to finally graduate. I am proud of where I came from. I am proud of being a recipient of TWC’s training program,” said Jennylyn Saavedra, a graduate of FCCCA course.

Bro. dela Cruz, TUCP Youth Director, reminded graduates of much bigger challenges in life than completing the training. He stressed that the TUCP and the TUCP Party List, with assistance from the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA), prepared graduates to succeed in those employment exams, gruelling interviews and revalidas, and tiring OJTs.

“I’ve had my share of failures, of being rejected after a series of employment interviews and examinations. But I never gave up. TUCP Workers College did not only teach us communication skills but also prepared us to accept every rejection as a challenge to do better,” shared Kristina Ocampo, who delivered the graduates’ response on behalf of FCCCA scholars. After almost a month of intensive company (in-house) training, Ms. Ocampo signed a work contract with a Philippine-based call centre.

Joey Apaw, speaking on behalf of housekeeping graduates, said he is proud of being a product of TWC and TESDA’s exacting standards. “I am no ordinary housekeeping graduate. I am a TWC person,” Joey exclaimed.

Leonardo Pangilagan of Pinoy Hilot encouraged fellow graduates to practice their skills and help popularize the traditional Filipino way of massage. He also committed to continue his education with TWC and work with TUCP and its advocacy and solidarity work.

Bro. Alejandro Villaviza assured graduates of TUCP’s support to help them find jobs, bring better services, quality training courses for more families and communities, better opportunities, better protection for and the exercise of their rights, and help them enjoy the fruits of their efforts.

He thanked TUCP Party List Representative Raymond Mendoza and former Senator and TUCP’s General Secretary Ernesto Herrera for getting TESDA support for the college. He particularly acknowledged TESDA’s continued scholarship programs.

“To our new students, we will mould you to be better students and workers. To our graduates, go spread the good news! There is hope; hope for many can start at the TUCP Workers College,” concluded Bro. Villaviza.

Celebrating with graduates and proud teachers and parents were other TUCP vice presidents, Bros. Zoilo dela Cruz, Jr.; Victorino Balais; Jesus Villamor; Alvin Fidelson; Sis. Esperanza Ocampo; and TUCP Chair of the Women’s Committee, Sis. Florencia Cabatingan.

TWC graduates are one with Wisconsin workers

Sis. Anna Lee Fos, TUCP Human and Trade Union Rights Monitoring Officer, briefed the graduates regarding the workplace rights and collective bargaining issues confronting the Wisconsin workers and the youth and other states in the US and called on the graduates’ support. The graduates committed to work with the TUCP in all its campaigns and advocacies.

Trade unions are extremely concerned about decent work opportunities for youth and continue to strengthen our work to advocate for international and national policies to stimulate overall job creation, investments in education and training to enhance the job prospects of young people, and to promote fundamental labor rights for workers of all ages.

Young trade unionists’ views were also shared with the panel by Dirk Janssen, Youth Delegate of the Netherlands to the UN, who had met with youth committees of trade unions in his home country to hear in their words how youth are impacted by unemployment and underemployment. Ambassador Jean-Francis Zinsou, Permanent Representative of Benin to the UN, reviewed the national policies that his government has adopted to confront the challenge of high youth employment, which he warned can lead to volatile economies and unstable societies. Such policies include measures that the international trade union movement supports, including investment in education and training that aim to align the skills of young people with job opportunities.

Still, in developing and developed countries, the picture of youth employment is a dark one. Jane Stewart, ILO representative to the UN, noted that during the recent crisis youth unemployment has increased more rapidly than overall unemployment and today youth are 2-3 times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Many young people entering the labour market are entering with no social protection whatsoever, forced to settle for informal, irregular and insecure work arrangements with low wages, poor and precarious working conditions, and without the freedom to join a trade union or engage in collective bargaining.

A speaker from a US employers’ association agreed trade unions that overall job creation fundamental to increasing job opportunities for youth. But in our view, the issue of concern for youth is not only lack of work, but lack of decent work. Labor rights are human rights and they are indispensible tools for sustained and sustainable economic growth. It is crucial that young people’s work is decent work, and youth-focused job creation must prioritize the protection of these basic rights.