Youth policy pays

Young Rep makes an immediate impact

Tesco trainee team leader Harry Wilson is starting to make a name for himself for all the right reasons. The 20 year-old from Great Dunmow in Essex has been a rep for only 12 months but is now involved in all union activities across the Eastern division.

“I’m on the youth committee, the political committee, I’ve attended get-togethers and the divisional conference,” said Harry. “I can’t believe how far I’ve come over the last year, my confidence is sky high.

“Getting involved is the key, you learn so much and you meet some great people. I didn’t have a clue what a union rep did until my area organiser visited the store and we got chatting.

“I’ve recently been involved with stand-down recruitment which has helped develop my communication and organising skills.

“Spending time as a stand-down rep allowed me to meet reps and activists from different companies. It helped me understand what goes on in other workplaces and how other reps handle situations.

“It also hits home how widespread the union is and that we have members in lots of other sectors other than retail. “I’ve had lots of support and encouragement from my local officials and first-class training from Usdaw.

“There are a lot of young people working part-time in my store and in retail generally. It would be great if we had more young reps promoting the interests of these young workers – so why not speak to your area organiser about how you can get more involved.”

You can put your skills to the test with the TUC Organising Academy, now recruiting for its September intake. The role involves a 12 month placement recruiting and organising for the sponsoring union. For more details visit www.tuc.org.uk

GET INVOLVED
Play your part in the campaign to win fairness for young workers. Leaflets and posters on a whole range of work-related issues are available and can be ordered from your local office or downloaded from the resource area of the website. Usdaw is also running ongoing surveys of its young members and is actively seeking your views on holiday entitlement and the national minimum wage. For more information visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/surveys

YOUTH WEEKEND
Usdaw holds an annual youth weekend for young activists at its national training centre in Warrington later in the year. The two-day residential event brings young members together from workplaces across the UK to take part in a variety of workshops and discussions. The weekend also plays host to some high profile guests and speakers. Speak to your youth co-ordinator if you’d like to attend. Usdaw also sends delegates to national youth conferences and events including the TUC and the Labour Party. If you are interested contact one of the co-ordinators below.

YOUTH CO-ORDINATORS
Usdaw has a team of full-time officials who are responsible for co-ordinating youth activities in their division, you can contact them through their divisional offices.

South Wales and Western
John Crick

Eastern
Adam Skwierawski

Midlands
David Thom

North Eastern
Joanne Thomas

Scottish
Craig Smith

Southern
Mick Greene

North West
Paul McKenna

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