STUC 84TH Annual Youth Conference

Young Workers August 20 2024

On 13^th and 14^th July 2024, the CWU was represented by two of our young workers, Louis O’Connor and Kirsty Wilson at the STUC 84^th Annual Youth Conference. It was a great weekend with plenty of debate on important topics including issues close to home such as pay, conditions & workplace rights as well as international issues such as defunding UNRWA & working for peace in Palestine. We spoke to support motions 6 on wage parity as well as passionately backing motion 14 around protecting tenants’ rights. We also worked collaboratively with the delegates from the other 8 unions who were represented at the conference on climate change workshops and engaged in group discussions on what impact our workplaces have on climate change and what they are doing to combat it as well as discussing how we can push to include these important issues into part of our everyday work as trade unionists who are committed to making not only fairer workplaces but also a fairer, cleaner & safer society for all.

On Saturday evening we had a social event where we were joined by the deputy lord provost of West Dunbartonshire John Millar who recognised the important work of the trade union and particularly the important part that young workers play, as the future of the trade union movement.

Overall this was a very enjoyable and worthwhile conference and as important as it is to discuss these motions and implement changes into the workplace and into society, it is equally as important that we build strong relationships with our comrades from other trade unions. We are all fighting for the same cause and unity is our strength!