We need real training,

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LOCAL Councils and trade unions are creating havoc with the MSC plans for 130,000 YTS places by Sep- YT tember. A leaked confidential report available for senior management suggests that as only half the targetted places have been secured it's time to get tough.

I he TUC supports the new schemes but local union: and councils have got wise to them: they are cheap labour, they undercut union rates and shop floor organisation. They are a Tory attempt to cut the unemployment figures and keep potentially rioting youth off the street. And local labour movements shouldn't So now the MSC plans to by-pass obstructive unions and publicly denounce Councils who refuse to sanction schemes which don't pay the union rate for the job and offer the same legal protection as 'real jobs'.

At YS Conference Class Fighter called for a campaign of Trade Union blacking of proposed schemes. •VINCE BROWN of Southwark Unemployed People's Action and a member of Peckham LPYS, looks at the background to these Government JOB IN THE mid-seventies, the government, in res ponse to the growing crisis of youth unemployment, introduced a series of special programmes of short term work experience and training schemes. In reality, these schemes were more a cosmetic measure to keep young people out of the labour market, and to keep the unemployment figures low as cheaply as possible.

By 1982, continued youth unrest, in particular the 1981 riots, had prompted the Tories to provide 500,000 such places in the form of YOPs.

The problems of YOPs are well known -tow placement in jobs of YOPsters (about one in three nationally, one in five in empoyment stitution of real jobs by YOPs, and i los ieve of trade union invoir. ment and recruitment Given the close modelling of YTS on YORs such: problems are wet to arise with the nege suneme.

Howerer, YTS does differ from YOPs in many respects. It is not the panic response that YOPs was. In fact, YTS is a well planned, far-reaching Tory initiative which reveals a radical change in the Tory concept of education as well as a powerful new weapon in industrial relations.

It is freely admitted by the Tories and the Manpower Services Commission that YIS is a move away from the concept of education to meet the needs of the individual, towards training for the needs of the employer and the economy.

Closure That YTS will come to dominate youth education can be seen in the cutting of 17 Industrial Training Boards (a body continually under attack bu the Tories in recent nears the pro D0se0 withdrama of all government cash support to apprenticeships by 1985, the running down of the TOPs programme, the closure of skill centres; and of course in the savage cuts in further education colleges, technological universities and schools provision for the over 16s.

Also, since local education authorities will have to provide FE courses at a one-third discount to YTS, other areas of education spending will have to be cut further.

The ability of FE colleges and local education authorities to fight back will be severely hampered by the financial dependence on the MSC that YTS will bring.

The attack on the trade unions is manifold. Firstly, the slashing of pay and conditions of young workers will reduce their expectations and aspirations, affecting their bargaining position for years to come.

Secondly, young people will be discouraged from joining trade unions since their pay and conditions will be MSC-determined rather than trade unior: refci ated.

Whilst in training, young workers must be given as far as possible, the same rights and protection as other employees. The traini 1g itself must be of a higl 1 quality and won't put up with them.

'Training' Schemes.

and a year's duration must be regarded as a minimum rather than the norm.

Existing training schemes and apprenticeships must be protected and their relationship to the new schemes must be discussed with the trade unions.

The co-operation and participation of the trade unions must be sought at all levels and stages. No new scheme should be introduced without trade union approval. Pay and conditions' of work must be trade union negotiated. Trainees must be encouraged to become full and active trade unionists, and discrimination in employment against women and blacks must be challenged, not reinforced.

Real training

The general education of trainees must cover industrial, political and civil rights, as well a a thorough and wide range of more basic courses.

What we must return to is the provision of real training for real jobs, trade union involvement in the training of young workers and a re emphasis on education for the needs of the individual rather than enslavement to the employer.

None of these principles should be compromised for the sale of MSC fundins, It would be a major ciefeat for the working class if the principles of MSC training were to become established in the labour movement.

What cạn the labour movement do to defend the working class from this attack?

Under attack

Thirdly, the low level and limited range of skills learned on YTS will tie the young worker to one job and one employer, and this reduction of mobility will further weaken the bargaining position of young workers.

Finally the strength of the trade union movement as a whole is under attack, by the depressing effect YTS low pay will have on wage bargaining generally and by the employers' threat to substitute real jobs by YTS. It is amazing that any trade unions could consider cooperating with YTS.

In more general terms, the political gains for the Tories from YTS are abrious. By artificialty creating half a million jobs and reducing the unemployment figures, they will be seen to be combatting youth unemployment.

What about young people themselves? Will they benefit from YTS?

Gang plank

No. they are the hardest done by of us all. YTS it is claimed is a bridge from school to work. More like a gang plank from the careers office to the dole queue.

Given no job security, no contractural obligations from their employers, they work a full week for £25, and have to pay the first £4 of their fares inenseives. This coupied with the other expenses of work means that 16 year olds would be financially better off on the £18.50 they cań claim from supplementary benefit. YTS does not create jobs. After a year's service the majority of young workers be thrown PAY US ampaign demonstration in Liverpoó back on to the dole or onto another mickey mouse, no hope, no training scheme. This fory sham is nothing more than ài vicious attack on young people and on the working class as a whole.

What about the role of local government? Employers are expected to create 300,000 mode A places, the other

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ider union control ITT

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blackspots), exploitative conditions of work, sub-