PCS Young Members Seminar - Ready to fight for their futures
The Young Members' Seminar in Newcastle provided an opportunity for young PCS activists from across the UK to get together and share their experiences of recent campaigns and organising young members in their workplaces.
PCS young members' network is the voice of young workers in PCS, wherever they are employed in the civil service and related areas, and is open to all PCS members aged 27 and under. The young members’ seminar gave young activists the chance to tell their stories of why they became involved in the trade union movement, why it was important to them and the role young people can play in developing and growing the movement.
Supporting the RMT picket at Newcastle Central Station before the seminar, Simmeron Katbamna, incoming chair of the young members' network said: “We've got a great weekend of organising, workshops and talks to get inspired and take the future of the movement forward on our shoulders.
“If you're a civil servant and you're not already a PCS member, join us now so you can get involved.” Simmeron added.
Zac Vallely (London and South East HMPO) said: “For the first time in history, the next generation of workers are set to be worse off than their parents; it’s so important for young workers to get involved in the trade union movement to fight back and secure a decent living for themselves”.
Josh Rampton, who works for the MoJ, says the biggest issue facing young workers today is a lack of understanding of how much they need trade unions. “Young workers who aren’t members of unions have been raised in an era when trade unions haven’t been seen as important, they haven’t been top of the national news headlines, people haven’t been raised in families where all their relatives are in unions and they forget all the things they've won.”
The seminar included a Q&A session with national president Fran Heathcote, as well as a session entitled Equality – At the heart of everything we do. This gave the young members a chance to ask what were at times difficult questions, about the experiences of older reps and how their insights could provide a platform for future action.
If you’re a PCS member aged 27 or under, contact organising@pcs.org.uk to get involved with PCS young members. If you’re not yet a PCS member join now.