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Young members active in the regions

28 October 2008

During Young Trade Unionist week in September, successful activities and events took place across all DWP regions. Active young member representatives attracted many new members to the union, and even more current members to the young members network.

What’s happening in your region?

South West

A successful recruitment day/young members event was held in a large processing site in Bristol, which resulted in a number of non-members being recruited as well as young members recruited to the network. A young members network is being established in for DWP reps in the region.

South East

In bucks & ox branch, a recruitment event took place where a young rep was recruited, and many members signed the low pay petition where they indicated an interest in the YM network. Young member officers in the region hope to target workplaces with a high density of young members in the coming months.

Wales

As well as ensuring young trade unionist material was distributed in all branches, in Cardiff and district branch, reps successfully negotiated a half-hour release for young members to attend events. Another two young member officers have taken up post in West Wales and North West Wales.

Eastern

An event was organised in a large processing site with a NEC guest speaker. Recruitment had also taken place in another large site, with future plans for potential recruitment in contact centres in Essex.

East Midlands

Joint work took place with west midlands had taken place to target a large processing centre where several non-members were recruited to the union. Three out of seven branches now have a young members officer.

North West

A successful recruitment event took place in Garston contact centre where 30 young members completed YM network forms and 14 non-members were recruited. Burnley pension centre also held a recruitment event which attracted several non-members and young members to union activity. Similar events were also held in a Fylde Coast DCS site and in Warrington pension centre.

Scotland

All of the branch young member officers carried out recruitment events with particularly successful activity in Glasgow benefit centre, Dundee and Motherwell pension centres. The Forth Valley and Dumbarton branch recruited several new members to the union and young members to the network.

London

The London region are in the process of electing a regional young members officer, and a questionnaire was circulated during young trade unionist week to spark interest.

Yorkshire and the Humber

Successful activity had taken place in Hull and East Riding branch, and Barnsley and Rotherham to recruit new members to the union.

Training event – apply now

There are still vacancies on the DWP young members training event in Leeds on 31st October. The course is aimed at those in the young members officer post, but open to any young member rep or those thinking about taking up a role in the union.

All experience levels are welcome as this is an opportunity for activists to share best practices and have direct input into the direction of young member activity in the DWP. Please obtain forms from leeds@pcs.org.uk or your branch secretary; alternatively you can make contact with your local PCS representatives or young member officer if you are interested in becoming more involved. See the PCS DWP young members webpage for more information

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