Moving the motion at Congress, Moira Cahill – Usdaw delegate said: “There is a mental health crisis among young workers in this country. Young people were hit hardest by the pandemic. Too many were isolated and unable to access their usual support networks and now young people are being disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis. Many are paid less than older colleagues as a result of discrimination in the National Minimum Wage and we are at the sharp end of the housing crisis, unable to save a deposit for a house, and facing extortionate rental costs.
 
“It’s easy to forget that young workers have responsibilities and costs, just like any other worker. In fact, TUC Research has shown that one in three young workers is a parent. A Young Minds survey reported that 83% of those with mental health conditions said the pandemic had worsened their mental health and it’s hardly as though the situation was great before the pandemic struck, too many young workers were already struggling with their mental health. Demand was already outstripping supply and services were stretched to breaking point.
 
“As if the impacts of a global pandemic were not enough for young people to contend with, we are now faced with a full blown cost of living crisis. The cost of everyday items is rising and energy bills are skyrocketing. Young people are desperately struggling to make ends meet. At the same time, this useless Tory Government never misses an opportunity to smash the hopes and aspirations of young people. After 12 years of Conservative Government, services are worse, wages remain lower and many essential items are simply unaffordable. Is it any wonder that in Usdaw’s cost of living survey, 88% of young members said financial worries are affecting their mental health?
 
“Unions have been taking vital steps to get employers to address mental health and wellbeing concerns, even in this difficult environment, but we need to step this work up. We need all employers to assess the impact their policies, practices and procedures have on the mental health of their workers and we need employers to act upon the findings.
 
“We also need urgent action from the Government to tackle this crisis. While employers may be offering some forms of support, this will only ever be a reactive response, once someone is already suffering with mental health issues. We need an economic system that supports workers and enables them to thrive, not just survive.
We need better pay and conditions, the roll-out of collective bargaining and a stronger employment rights framework.
 
“We need a New Deal for Young Workers. Too many of us are in insecure work, with zero hours or short hours contracts, on pitiful minimum wage youth rates, without the protections we need or deserve. It’s time for new deal, grounded in day one rights for young workers, including higher statutory sick pay that reflects normal earnings.
 
“This new deal must also be coupled with better investment in mental health services. Services that will guarantee mental health treatment in less than one month, backed up by thousands of new mental health workers. It is essential that we tackle the mental health crisis amongst young workers.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion