Workshop Turin 18th of December 2009 1 Trade Unions attract young people Workshop Turin 18th of December 2009 Mike De Herdt ABVV – FGTB Youth coordinator.

Workshop Turin 18th of December 20091

Trade Unions attract young people

Workshop Turin 18th of December 2009

Mike De HerdtABVV – FGTB Youth coordinator Flanders

Some Belgian numbers - Federal state - 3 languages/regions

- Negociations (with or without government) at all levels- Population: 10.000.000- Working people: 6.000.000- Unionization: 3.400.000 = about 65 %- 3 Trade union federations: ABVV-FGTB : 1.400.000 members ACV-CSC : 1.600.000 members ACLVB-CGLSB: 400.000 members

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Some ABVV-FGTB numbers

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Members: 1.400.000Students: 40.000Working youth (-35 y) 500.000Young working activists 3.000 7 branch unions = 1 white collar + 5 blue collar + 1 government-employed

17 regional federations

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The beginning Federation Founded in 1898, unions started in 1885 First youth activities 1932 In the 50-ies ABVV-FGTB created 3 youth structures

- Services for students – information

- Young (Working) Activists (no students)

- Organising military recruits

( they got rigths too ! )

Since the 50ies No more organising military recruits (obliged service

was abolished in 1993) 4 organisations left, became 2 (only French & Dutch) Subsidies of the government (youth organisations) 30 years focus on services & trying to organise

students, but not on the working youth last 5 years new formula

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“New” formula

Each organisation => 2 main goals = 2 strategees Free membership for students

= MAGIK? => info (membermagazine)=> aid/assistance with student-job-related issues

Organise young activists = WORKING CLASS HEROES

=> They work & are active already

=> Inform, educate, positions Workshop Kiev 6-9th of October

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Budget & Organisation

2 organisations: FGTB-jeunes + ABVV-jongeren French-speaking + Dutch-speaking

Each has a comparable budget - 70% Government, based on regulations, decreasing - 30% Trade union, based on membership numbers, increasing- 80% staff budget 20% working budget

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Staff for 2 organisations (Belgium)

2 x 1 coördinator 2 x 5 people national office 2 x 10 people in regional offices No volonteers working in our offices

They are active on their own working spots Volunteers = Working Class Heroes= Young working activists

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Students

Free membership 40.000 in total Membership & services only no structure, no meetings or activities Special “brand” = Magik? www.magik.be

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Activities for Students Services, no other activities= info on financing studies = info & help if a student works… - part-time, trainees - weekends, holidays

Communication:- Colourfull (people and background), genderbalanced, - Posters, flyers, little books - Member-magazine (Magik?)

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Young working activists

Re-started to work with them in 2006 Pay membership to branch unions Join network freely : a network, no structure 3000 ‘members” (Belgium) Special ‘brand” = Working Class heroes www.workingclassheroes.be

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Activities Young working activists

3 activities

1. Informing them (get information quickly, positions, actions)

2. Joining them & education (weekends, workshops)3. Extra campaigns during social elections

(posters, working class night)

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Influence on decision-making who?

Starting up Youth commissions on all levels. Example: Flemisch youth commissionWho?

All youth organisation staff members 50% young delegates of regions 50% young delegates of branch unions

Based on membership numbers of eachMeeting 4 times a year

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Influence on decision-making what?

Strictly youth issues => take a position publicly

Change legislation on student work Change policies on youth employment

General policies (within trade union or in general) => Advise the formal trade union structures => Not publicly, respect internal democracy

Debate on retirement …. How to modernise out trade union

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Cooperations in Belgium

With other trade union youth Actions on youth unemployment / working conditions Actions to present ourselves in schools (promo Magik?)

With others Youth organisations (youth parliament / services) NGO/ONG => decent work campaign (www.ilo.org) www.sharkmark.be

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International cooperations Representatives in ETUC & ITUC Trainings / workshops for ILO-initiatives European Social Fora, World Social Fora and World Climate

fora (Copenhagen, dec 2009) Associations with other trade union youth – visit each other YES… www.youngeuropeansociety.eu Belgian + Swedish We are planning to do this more in the near future

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HOW TO GET STARTED ? 1. Analyze youth - trade-union - relationship

Their position towards AND within the trade union(s). Membership, activism, popularity, youth issues approach

2. Bring the (mostly bad) numbers to responsables (why is it important to do something)

3. Make a plan with strategies and goals(what, when, who & numbers)

4. Attach a realististic budget

5. Keep on trying & fighting – persevere !

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