Benn backs YOPs youth

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by Mick Liggins [chairperson, National Council for Young Workers] An acknowledgement of the growing militancy of the youth on the so-called 'Youth Opportunities Programmes' was shown when the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party had a discussion on the YOP schemes last month.

Out of the discussion came a motion put forward by Tony Benn for the next Labour government to give full trade union rights to YOP workers and the right for them to negotiate The motion - opposed both Dennis Healey and Michael Foot -by 12 votes to 5.

While this obviously means a significant step forward in the YOP struggle, the position has to strengthened by committing the Labour Party to a policy of paying full trade union rates.

And the fight must not be left until the next Labour government. The labour movement has to take a lead in fighting for unionisation of the Tory cheap labour schemes NOW.

Meanwhile the strike by the 250 YOP workers in Durham in June has led to them going around to other YOP schemes, recruiting for the union and seeking the support of thousands of YOP workers for a one-day strike backed by NUPE next month.

Employment secretary James Prior has indicated that the YOP 'allowance' of £23.50 will remain the same for the second year running.

Last November the rate was due to be increased to £27.50 - but this was cancelled by Chancellor Howe.

A worried NUPE official warned: 'If that happens, even NUPE will not be able to control what these youngsters do"

A fight has to be taken up to spread union organisation and strike action throughout the YOP schemes nationally. That is the job of all trade union members, not just YOP workers.

The National Council for Young Workers is fighting to coordinate this action and to unionise all YOP schemes. Trade Union and Labour Party branches should support the workers by affiliating to this body and taking up the fight to expose YOP cheap labour schemes through independent trade union/Labour Party inquiries.

* National Council for Young Workers, UMIST Students' Union, PO Box 88, Manchester M60 1QV. Tel: 061-861 0317. think what they were doing in the organisation.

Most of the youth in there were against the fascists, and saw them as lunatics.

Tory looters

Whether we were inside for burglary, or for just walking the streets, we realised that we were not being locked up for 22 hours a day for OUR wrongdoings.

The reason we were there was because the Tories and their supporters, the police, see youth as a threat to their system of exploitation and profits, and intend to go on intimislating them.

The time has come to take a stand and organise together to point out the real looters - the Tories -and make them pay.

DROP THE CHARGES!

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Socialist Organiser 30 July 1981 Page