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 true:

• Unemployment Rates for young people are rising. However, in 2020, young people’s employment rate saw a significant decline.
• Many young workers join the labour market on hourly contracts. Right out of education, the competition for employment is brutal. So, regardless of their education, many young workers turn towards hourly contracts in the retail or hospitality industries. Unfortunately, on these contracts, they enjoy very few benefits. Salary is never fully assured, they often don’t get any sickness or holiday pay, and many businesses treat them as replaceable. 
• Gig Economy is on the rise. Increasing flexibility in the workforce has led to a gig economy. It is more common now for companies to hire workers only for a short time when needed and for workers to jump between one gig and the next. Whilst this is convenient and cheap for businesses, it makes it difficult for young workers to compete with gig employees, and job security continues to be at an all-time low.
• Young People are often discriminated against. As young workers join the labour market for the first time, they are quickly taken advantage of by employers. Young workers can usually be paid a lower salary, even if they perform the same job as more senior staff members and dedicate themselves wholly to their trade. This is simply because young workers often don’t know better and have not enjoyed guidance in fighting for their rights.
• More young people turn towards self-employment. Freelancing is becoming a popular option for many young workers as remote working is on the rise. In line with the gig economy, freelancers can be their own employers. Whilst job security can sometimes be an issue; freelancers can set their own salaries and hours. However, the law does not often support and protect these types of workers as they do traditional full-time staff in various industries. This is where unions can still join the fight to do better.

The State of Young People and Trade Unions

Trade unions have always attracted older employees or those past their middle-ages. They are also much more robust in sectors with permanent, full-time jobs that have been historically unionized. On the other hand, unions have enjoyed a much smaller impact on the retail, catering, and hospitality industries, where many young people often start their careers in low-paid roles.

Although young people have historically been less engaged with trade unions, this trend could be changing now. A cross the US, a new generation of unions led by 20 to 30-year-olds is emerging in the service industry. Freelancer unions represent self-employed workers and seek better protections for those that fall between the gaps of other sectors.

And now, with the pandemic creating even greater insecurity around the labour market, interest in trade unions is on the rise once more, and trade unions have seen increased sign-ups to memberships in the early months of COVID-19.

It is left to be seen whether this momentum will continue. 

If you are a young worker facing uncertainty in your sector, consider joining a trade union.

Now more than ever, it is essential for young people to come together and fight for their working rights. Now is the time to impact your future workplaces and win protections. 

A trade union membership could help you negotiate a larger salary for yourself and support you in case a conflict arises in the workplace. Visit Community today to browse the wide range of sectors we work with to make a positive change in the labour market for the generations to come.