Electrical Apprentice speaks to Socialist Youth

FEARGAL De BUitleir spoke to Conor, an apprentice electrician from Dublin about the situation facing many young workers today

 

“I STARTED my apprenticeship in 2002 when I was 17. I’ve worked for three companies. The first company didn’t provide much training, and they had a practice of letting a load of apprentices go with the excuse that there was no work. Usually just before they got out of college. About two weeks later they take on more lads. At the time I quit the company, they let ten guys go and hired five others a few weeks later.

 

Notts campaign against the racist BNP grows

Protest against BNP gaining seat in London Assembly

Nottinghamshire Stop the BNP campaign was set up about a year ago, after the election of a BNP councillor (subsequently expelled from the BNP) onto Broxtowe Borough Council in May 2007.

 

Ben Robinson, International Socialist Resistance – England and Wales

Activists from the campaign and supporters in the Derbyshire area have built a strong united local campaign against the racist British National Party’s activities in their area. Nottinghamshire Stop the BNP (NStBNP) has already had some successes, including a 150-strong protest in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire last October which effectively stopped a BNP public meeting with their chairman, Nick Griffin, from going ahead.

RATM – the music and the politics

Whether it was the songs of Pete Seeger in the 1930s, Bob Dylan in the 1960s or Public Enemy in the 1980s, the mix of politics and music has always struck a chord amongst a layer of young people who are angry and frustrated at the huge poverty, repression and exploitation that exists in the world.  In the 1990s, that honour undoubtedly belonged to Rage Against The Machine. 

 

By Stephen Rigney, Dublin Socialist Youth

SY Belfast – End Low Pay

 WE DEMAND

£8 minimum wage NOW
Abolish the youth
exemptions
End bullying, intimidation and poor working conditions
Trade union rights for all young workers

 As the cost of living goes through the roof the proposed increase for the minimum wage in October is nowhere near what is needed. How is anyone expected to live off this poverty wage?

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