. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .
An article from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
The ITUC expresses its solidarity with young people taking to the streets across the world to demand quality education, decent jobs, affordable living conditions and democratic accountability.
Across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, youth-led protests are exposing two devastating trends that are fuelling frustration among young people worldwide:
° Education systems and economies are failing students and young workers. Costs are rising, quality is declining and the lack of decent job opportunities is making young people feel that building a future is impossible.
° Governments are failing to address these challenges, either refusing to take responsibility or actively insulting protesters and repressing non-violent demonstrations.
Credit: AFP CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULTShared demands for a better future
Although circumstances differ between countries, young people across these movements are voicing shared demands that reflect the priorities of workers and trade unions worldwide:
° Quality public education and services. End austerity, increase investment in public education and healthcare, and guarantee accessible, affordable and high-quality services for all.
° Decent work and fair wages. Create decent job opportunities for young people, guarantee fair pay, job security and social protection, and ensure that education leads to decent work.
° Affordable living conditions. Address the rising cost of housing, food, energy and other essentials, and ensure that wages allow young people to live in dignity.
° Democracy and accountability. Tackle corruption, ensure transparency in public decision-making and guarantee young people’s meaningful participation in decisions affecting their future.
° Fundamental rights and freedoms. End the repression of peaceful demonstrations, protect freedom of expression and assembly, and guarantee democratic trade union rights such as freedom of association.
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What is the contribution of trade unions to the culture of peace?
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Young trade unionists at the forefront
Many of these young people are committed trade unionists and are part of the ITUC’s global membership of 200 million workers. Young trade unionists are helping to turn frustration into collective action, linking demands for better education and decent job opportunities with the defence of democracy, public services and workers’ rights.
Speaking at ITUC webinar, Fight For Democracy: Young Workers Organising for the Future, Harsha Shelke from HMS India said: “Students are losing hope and trust over the education system in India. We are focusing on helping young people to know what is right and what is wrong and what they deserve.
“Trade unions offer us a platform where we can come all together and fight all together.”
“The higher the number, the stronger the fight. Solidarity can bring more attention and more power and better results against the things we are fighting.”
Mabel Paladines from CEOSL Ecuador added: “At this moment we have a right-wing government. Education funding has been cut short year after year. In the most recent mobilization, the brutal police killed colleagues who exercised their right to protest. But young workers in Ecuador are strategic. We have a communications strategy, we have a legal strategy with a case before the Constitutional Court, and we occupy the public space and insert ourselves in these debates.”
ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: “Young people are demanding what every generation should be able to expect: quality education, decent jobs, affordable living conditions and a voice in shaping their lives. These are key elements of the New Social Contract championed by the ITUC.
“Governments must listen to these demands and respond with practical action, not more repression, austerity and intimidation.”
“These protests are a warning that policies which deny young people opportunities and economic security are unsustainable. Trade unions stand with young people demanding change. Their fight for decent work, democracy and social justice is our fight too.”
The ITUC calls on governments to engage in genuine dialogue with young people and their representative organisations, including trade unions, and respond to their demands with concrete commitments to decent work, quality public services, social protection and democratic freedoms.
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