How Young People Could Shape the Future of Trade Unions
Long-term membership decline has been an issue for trade unions for a long time now. In 1979, there were over 13.2 million people in Britain that enjoyed a trade union membership . In 2018, there were only 6.01 million members. This decline of over 50% can be attributed to a range of factors, from political reforms to the eighties to privatisations in various industries. As a result, younger workers have much more rarely joined unions in the last years and often fight battles in the workplace independently. The pandemic has boosted the interest young workers show in trade unions, however, and there might finally be light at the end of the tunnel. This article will discuss why trade unions matter for young people especially and why it might be a good idea to sign up for a membership yourself. The Struggles Young People Face on the Labour Market The labour market of today is often volatile and unwelcoming when it comes to young workers. There is a range of reasons why this is tr