International Youth Day – 2017 PSI message and young workers need a payrise

(11 August 2017) August 12th is the International Youth Day. This year it is dedicated to celebrating young people’s contributions to conflict prevention and transformation as well as inclusion, social justice, and sustainable peace. PSI launched a series of actions to underline the challenges young workers face and the contributions they make in our societies.   Identifying and addressing the social exclusion of young people is a precondition for sustaining peace.  And ETUC has focused on the precarious work of many young people and why they deserve a pay increase.

Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary, says: “Decent jobs for young people, access to free quality public education, healthcare and inclusive policies are the key to building and sustaining peace. Ensuring young workers can organise in a union, mobilise for their rights, bargain collectively and have the right to strike is essential for them to defend their rights and their future, and reduce the potential of violence that is often a reaction to the denial of these fundamental rights to address growing inequality and restore social justice.” 

PSI calls on all its affiliates to stand up for the rights of young workers! We cannot accept a future with worsening working and living conditions. We want inclusive and equitable societies that offer opportunities for all! Sustainable peace means nothing without decent work, strong public services and social justice for workers! To read more on the actions and what you can do

ETUC has focused on why young people need a pay rise. Please see the videos here.

Earlier actions focused on Europe’s Public Service Workers deserve a pay increase