Youth organise to fight YOPs

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At the conference a day At the conference a of action on Monday June 8. *For •an independent support for the union established so-called direct the YOPs struggle national steering committee Socialist Press supporters trade union inquiry involving action. "Youth Opportunities Pro- towards the trade unions, will be fichting on the YOP YOPs "trainees" into the posing the demand for full was elected —who are organ- steering committee for:

The youth on these trade union rates of pay and ising to establish branches *FoI strike action in unionisation of schemes are becoming more full trade union rights for up and down the country. YOPs from June 8, and wide schemes. and more militant, realising YOPs workers.

strike Young workers on the Youth Opportunities Project schemes in Glasgow staged a one-day strike on May 14 as part of their fight for more pay, shorter hours, full trade union rights and better working conditions.

Around 70 youth joined a picket outside the City Chambers and handed in a petition at the Manpower Services Commission offices.

The action followed a one-day strike by youth at the Polmadie Training Workshop in the Gorbals on 24 April.

Since then a campaign of leafletting and petitioning has been stepped up in YOPs workshops, local factories and union branches.

The struggle must now gr forward to the establishment of a coordinating committee of representatives from the different YOPs schemes in Glasgow, and forge links with the newly established National Council for Young Workers. ing conditions.

In the midst of these struggles the trade union leadership so busy selling them out, have managed to divert attention from one important section of the working class-that is the youth.

There is one section of the working class 440 000strong who last November had a "wage rise" from £23 to £27 stopped. They are being hounded under repressive factory conditions such as fines, no safety, and are forced effectively to scab on other workers.

These are the youth on the government and trade the government and trade union established so-called "Youth Opportunities Programme" (YOPs). gramme" (YOPs).

The youth on these schemes are becoming more and more militant, realising issues but reflecting militancy that has built up over the whole idea of the now almost conscrint schemes.

Bearing in mind the total reluctance of the trade union leadership to give any lead or national focus for the ficht to organise YOPs schemes, an important step forward was taken two weeks ago at a conference of YOPs workers from all over the country.

This established the National Council for Young Workers, an organisation based mainly on YOPs workers but also working closely within campaiens for unemployed workers unions.

The organisation aims to The organisation aims to direct the YOPs struggle towards the trade unions, posing the demand for full trade union rates of pay and full trade union rijihts for YOPs workers. national steering committee was elected —who are organising to establish branches up and down the country.

They are organising a day They are orranising a day of action on Monday June 8.

Socialist Press supporters will be fighting on the YOP steering committee for:

*Full trade union *Full trade union rates and rights on YOPs. and rights on YOPs.

*For an independent trade union inquiry involving YOPs "trainees" into the dealings of YOPs. dealings of YOPs.

*For strike action in YOPs from June 8, and wide for the *For the unior nions to give an immediate lea lead in the of YOPs