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Linking young trade unionists in the UK and
Nicaragua
In 2007 NSCAG launched a new project working to
develop links between young trade union members in Nicaragua and the UK.
Through a tour of Nicaraguan trade unionists in the UK, a delegation to
Nicaragua and TU workshops within Nicaragua it aims to involve more
UK young members in international trade union work, produce information
about the different ways unions are organising young members and strengthen
structures in Nicaragua to enable young people to participate more
effectively, developing a future generation of trade union
leaders. These projects have been generously funded by CWU
and the UNISON International Development Fund.
Background
Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in Central America, with workers
generally facing increasing informalisation, a reduction in public services,
low wages and increasing unemployment. 70% of the population are under 30
and unions are seeing the increasing importance of involving young people in
their work.
Young workers face twice the unemployment rate of their older colleagues and
are often less able to access the rights and benefits available to them.
Many end up in informal work or emigrating to other countries It is vital
for unions to organise young workers in order to maintain and increase
unionisation levels, ensure protection of their rights and to develop a new
generation of union organisers and leaders. Although Nicaraguan unions have
had some success in this area there is a need to develop the structures and
opportunities available to young members and to ensure they have the skills
necessary to play an active part in organising work.
In the UK unions face an ageing membership and there is a need to attract
more young workers. Young people are increasingly more aware of global
linkages and more interested in travel and international affairs than ever
before. Raising awareness of young people about the work done by unions on a
global is an important way of both attracting young people to unions and
showing the power and importance of unions on the international stage.
Get Involved in 2010:
Join the 2010 Trade Union Youth Delegation to Nicaragua.
April 23rd to May 3rd 2010 >>
Previous activities:
2007 to 2009: FNT Workshops in Nicaragua: new report
NSCAG has facilitated the funding of workshops organised
by the FNT
(National Workers Front). The FNT has run a number of youth training workshops and
has set up the FNT Youth Council to coordinate national activities to
support young members and encourage them to become more active in their
union. In September 08, the FNT Youth Council organised a National Youth
Assembly, the first of its kind for young Nicaraguan trade unionists.
These workshops have been generously funded by
the
UNISON International Development Fund. For more information on this
fund and other projects it has funded see
www.unison.org.uk/international/pages_view.asp?did=9326
2009 Delegation to Nicaragua.
Full colour report here >>
2009 Speaker Tour of UK by
Karina Gomez.
This took place in June >>
2008 International Youth Solidarity Seminar
This seminar, held on July 12th at Congress House, provided information
and training to enable young members in the UK to get involved in
international solidarity with young workers in other countries. Participants
took part in skills based workshops on fundraising, campaigning, media and
raising awareness and building practical links with workers in other
countries. They also worked together to share ideas on actions and
activities they could follow up as a group and within their own union to
build solidarity with young workers in Nicaragua, with input from the young
members that participated in the February delegation to Nicaragua.
Read the outcomes from this Seminar and get involved in the
NSCAG
Youth Action Network! >>
2008 Young Members Delegation to Nicaragua a great success!
In February 2008 five young members from CWU, UNISON, UNITE/Amicus and
UNITE/TGWU visited Nicaragua as part of the NSCAG Youth Delegation. The
visit was hosted by the National Workers Front (FNT). Whilst in Nicaragua
the delegates met with young members from five of the FNT’s affiliated union
federations, representing workers from a range of sectors; health,
education, communication, judicial, industrial, manufacturing and the
informal sector. The delegates also met with a number of civil society and
women’s rights organisations to learn more about the current political and
social situation in Nicaragua.
You can read the full report of
the delegation
through this link >>
2007 Speaker Tour:
As part of the NSCAG Linking Young Trade Unionists Project
two youth representatives from our Nicaraguan partner, the FNT (National
Workers Front), visited the UK from November 23rd to December 2nd. The
speaker tour was a chance for young activists in the UK to meet the
Nicaraguans and share experiences and ideas on young member organising and
how to develop sustainable and effective solidarity links. As well as
meeting with a number of key union contacts throughout the UK, the
Nicaraguan representatives ran a workshop at the Latin America Conference
2007 in London on December 1st on youth organising and young member
solidarity.
For all queries about the Youth Unionists Project or NSCAG contact us on:
nscag@nicaraguasc.org.uk
or: NSCAG, 86, Durham Rd, London N7 7DT
020 7561 4836
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