Young Workers in Action - CLC Winter School

Greetings,

The CLC is putting on a youth course, Young Workers in Action,  at the Harrison Winter School in BC. This course is designed to help develop young labour activists in both the workplace and the community.  It will build basic leadership skills, and deal with public speaking fundamentals and effective communication.  The basics of organizing young workers into unions will also be covered.  Connections to the broader labour movement will be developed, including some labour history and a discussion of the participants’ involvement in both social justice and labour issues.

It runs during the fourth week of winter school, February 12 - 17 2006. You can register for the course at http://pacific.canadianlabour.ca/index.php/winter_school_sectio  or by calling the CLC regional office at 604-430-6766.

I'm asking that people spread the word within their unions. If you have any questions about the course, please email or call me at 613-526-7424

In Solidarity,

Orion Irvine, National Representative - Youth Issues, Canadian Labour Congress

“Ipagpatuloy: Living the Storm”

First Quarter Storm Campaign  - Filipino Youth and Student Conference

November 25-27, 2005 at Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada

The Philippines welcomed 1970 with a storm of unparalleled political action and conviction. Ripe with deep understanding of the semi-colonial, semi-feudal crisis of Philippine society, Filipino youth and students together with peasants, workers and segments of the middle class, militantly capsized the streets of Manila to criticize future dictator Ferdinand Marcos, lambaste US foreign policy, and to vindicate the Philippines as a country for the Filipino people.

35 years later, the First Quarter Storm (FQS) breathes in the collective memory of the Filipino people as an event of uncompromised vigilance and principles.

Visit kalayaancentre.net for more information. Online registration is available at www.ugnayan.net.  

Study: Young Workers Paid 25% Less Than 30 Years Ago

August 16th Canadian Labour Congress study documents current job market conditions for youth - situation worse for young workers of colour OTTAWA - "You're a young Canadian with your whole future in front of you..." meant a lot more a generation ago than it does today. Today, being a Canadian under 25 means you're better educated, paid less and less likely to find a job you can count on compared to your parents' generation back in the 1970s and 80s. According to a new report from the Canadian Labour Congress, young working men, aged 15 to 24, earn 25% less than the young men of the same age group did a generation ago (in real terms, adjusted for inflation). Young women seem to do a bit better, earning 20% below what was paid to young women in the workforce thirty years ago. This dramatic decline in wages is just one of the shockers revealed in a new statistical analysis of the job market for young workers in Canada, released today by the Canadian Labour Congress to mark International Youth Day. "Better Educated, Badly Paid and Underemployed: A Statistical Picture of Young Workers in Canada" is available online at www.canadianlabour.ca. "It's harder than it used to be for young Canadians to get started in life. We've seen the signs for years, and now we've got the numbers to prove it," says Barbara Byers, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Labour Congress. "This study makes it urgent for everyone in a decision-making capacity, including those of us in the labour movement, to deal with the issues that stand in the way of rapid improvements in the standard of living of those who happen to be less than 25 years old today. Issues like job creation, minimum wage, student debt, child care, training, pay equity and an effective anti-racism strategy," she says. The study also highlights how, compared to all other workers of the same age group, young workers of colour experience higher unemployment, longer unemployment, lower salaries, fewer promotions - even when they are Canadian born (and not held back by issues of language or of recognition of international  training credentials or work experience). This short yet comprehensive study covers issues of unemployment, poverty, education and training, job quality, hours of work, job security and unionization. "What kind of society are we building, what kind of future are we ensuring by crushing the next generation of Canadians with student debts while denying them the jobs and the wages they need?" asks Byers. "We really are putting the future on hold by denying opportunity to today's young workers and students. The numbers show that people are staying longer with their parents, don't have much money, aren't getting married or starting families because they cannot experience - at work nor at home - any of the social and economic independence their parents wished for them. If we truly want a better future for the next generation, something's got to change and change fast." she says. The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada's national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 137 district labour councils. Web site: www.canadianlabour.ca

Job Opportunity for Facilitators: Surrey Urban Youth Project

July 27th Project Description The Surrey Urban Youth Project is a participant-driven, arts-based, anti-oppression program that will be mounted in Surrey in November 2005. The project will target immigrant, refugee, Indigenous and South Asian youth aged 15 -18 years. SUYP will be comprised of a series of social-issues based workshops that utilize both urban arts (ie. break dance, graffiti art, spoken word and rhyme writing) and traditional arts (ie. martial arts) as a central mechanism through which racism, peer pressure, violence and other forms of discrimination and oppression, as identified and by participant youth, are discussed and presented to the wider public. The project will culminate with a multidisciplinary performance created through a participant-driven process. This performance will be mounted in Surrey during Youth Week in May 2006. The project will consist of 1 weekly 3-4 hour workshop from October 2005 – May 2006. We are seeking: Two core facilitators and four support facilitators to implement the Surrey Urban Youth Project. One central focus of the project is to ensure that participant youth are represented, ethno-culturally, by the facilitation team with whom they will be working. This will provide youth with positive role models with whom they share lived experiences, which we understand as integral to building meaningful and empowering relationships with youth. We encourage all to apply, and strongly encourage facilitators who self-identify as members of identified communities to apply. Core and Support Facilitator Responsibilities August-September 2005, project development, 5 hours/week. October 2005 – May 2006, project implementation, 6 hours/week including workshop facilitation as well as one development meeting. (Within this scheme Core Facilitators will be expected to facilitate all workshops and attend all development meetings whereas Support Facilitators will work on a rotational structure and will be expected to facilitate one workshop and attend 3 development meetings every 4 weeks.) Qualifications: Experience facilitating youth between the ages of 13-18; Experience working with immigrant, refugee, Indigenous and South Asian youth; Experience working in the arts ie. poetry/rhyme writing, dance/martial arts/break dance, visual arts, theatre; Experience and willingness to work within consensus-based decision making structures; Workshop and curriculum development and implementation; Working knowledge and commitment to the principles of anti-oppression; Familiar with critiques of multiculturalism; Familiar with issues generally facing immigrant, refugee, Indigenous and South Asian youth; Experience with intercultural communication Bonus Skills/Training (not required): Training in conflict resolution First Aid Pay Structure PENDING FUNDING: Facilitators will work on contract, and will be remunerated at a rate of $25/hour. Interested in applying? Please send your application including a resume and cover letter to surreyurbanyouthproject@gmail.com no later than August 1st 2005. Project Co-coordinator, mia amir, can also be reached at 604.780.8463. This project has been endorsed by South Asian Frontline Education, Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre, and the Surrey School District.

Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance Fundraiser - Vancouver

"Rebel Musik: A Kulture Reclaimed" an all-ages fundraising concert organized by the Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance (FCYA), is guaranteed to pack East Vancouver’s Ukrainian Hall on Friday, August 5, 2005, 8pm.

The concert will feature local hip hop trio, OPC, hip hop/punk violinist virtuoso Kytami (featuring raw acoustic punk guitarist Blackie Leblanc) and R&B recording artist, Aileen dela Cruz. California-based, hip hop duo Native Guns will headline the fundraising event in which proceeds will go towards FCYA’s upcoming international youth conference, "Ipagpatuloy: Living the Storm".

Read more on the upcoming events page.

Youth Peace Camp August 2005

July 6th : via email

This summer, Vancouver-area youth will challenge barriers to Middle East peace and peace in our local Arab and Jewish communities. This email is your invitation to participate.

Peace it Together is a five-day summer camp that will empower young leaders to use arts, outdoor adventure and deep dialogue as tools for education, self-expression, and social change. It runs August 24-28, 2005.

Youth determine the future. Will it be a future of peace? Will it be a future of courage? Take part in the Peace It Together Summer camp to discover new possibilities for peace while making new friendships that will last a lifetime and across continents.

Peace it Together camp participants will:

• Build leadership skills
• Meet youth from other cultural backgrounds
• Get outside to hike and play summer sports
• Explore art, music, theatre and creativity
• Hear from the international participants of Peace It Together 2004 about their experience with the Palestinian / Israeli conflict
• Discover how dialogue and communication can work to resolve conflict

This event is for participants who are:

• Mature and creative youth, 14-17 years old, committed to being leaders and standing up for their beliefs.
• From diverse backgrounds, primarily Muslim, Arab and Jewish, but not exclusively.
• Interested in learning about people whose backgrounds differ from theirs and are committed exploring ways to end racism in their communities
• Want to build a vision for the future that honours our roles as diverse Canadians.
• Open-minded and up for all sorts of challenges, they will continue to strengthen Jewish and Arab relations upon completion of the program.·
• Available to be at a camp on BC's Sunshine Coast on August 24-28, 2005
• Willing to fundraise or able pay $150 for the five-day peace camp. Fundraising assistance is available.

PIT will make every attempt to ensure that religious guidelines are followed.

Next Steps

This event is by application only. Apply online at www.creativepeacenetwork.ca or fill in the attached form.

The due date for applications is July 15. Late applications may be considered, but preference will be given to applications submitted before the deadline!

Questions? Want more information?

Email info@creativepeacenetwork.ca

Call Ranza at 604.732.1612

Learn more about Peace it Together 2005, and about last year's camp and participants, by checking out our website at www.creativepeacenetwork.ca

PIT_application.pdf

XVI World Festival of Youth and Students

June 13th : via email Those who are thinking of going to Caracas, Venezuela for the 16th World Festival of Youth and Students, where over 20,000 young people from 100 countries will gather for political, cultural and sports activities, should start to make the necessary arrangements. The Festival will take place from August 7 to 15 in Caracas. The fee is very low, only US $200, which covers food and lodging. Travel is extra, of course. The preparatory committee in Canada is trying to charter a Cubana Airline plane(s) to carry the hundreds of youth interested in going, and so as to avoid any stop over in the US. Departure would be on August 5, with a 2 day stop over in Havana, we were told last night at a public meeting on the situation in Latin America last night in Toronto. Guests will stay in excellent accommodations at publicly owned hotels or at university campus dorms in Caracas. The gathering will be a priceless opportunity to witness a revolution in the making, in Venezuela, and to interact with progressive youth who are opposing war and injustice around the world. If interested in going, you should immediately visit the Canadian Central Preparatory Committee web site at: www.wfys-canada.org  The Official WFYS web site is: www.caracas2005.info and send enquiries to: youth_venezuela.2005@yahoo.ca

Roots, Rhymes and Resistance 7

May 5th Roots, Rhymes and Resistance 7 - Ipagpatuloy: Living the Storm, An evening of cultural expression by Filipino youth in Canada. Saturday, May 21, 2005 at the Western Front Artist Run Centre, 303 east 8th Avenue, Vancouver. Doors open 6:30PM, Show starts at 7PM Tickets are now available for $10, kids under 7 get in free. hurry! space is limited. For more information, or to order tickets contact: 604-215-1103 or ukpc_fcya@kalayaancentre.net

Where are YOUth now?

Since 2002 with the creation of a new Regional Council position for Youth, and the formation of the PSAC-BC Youth Caucus many young workers have been getting more involved in the PSAC. In December 2003, we held the first YOUR (Young, Organized, Unionized and Resisting) course, a course created and facilitated by and for young workers. It was an opportunity for young workers to share their experiences, discuss common struggles and analyze the issues they face in the workplace, in the Union and in society.

A/Regional Representative Monica Urrutia, staff person responsible for the Youth Portfolio, and Sheri Cornelius, the current Regional Council Youth Representative noticed that more of our youth (and former youth) caucus members have been getting more involved in the Union. We asked them "Where Are YOU now?" Here are some of the responses.

Carl Douglas, CEIU 20947 - HRCC Nanaimo

I haven't been anymore involved than what I was when I was at the YOUR course. I'm Youth Vice Pres for my local. My job here as Youth Vice Pres involoves me meeting and greeting the new employees that come into our office. Give them the run down on who is who.

I'm also on the Social Committee, which we try to make work a more enjoyable place to be, by having potluck days, pizza day, Gift basket raffles, theme lunchs, after work pub gathering, dinner/dance, anything to make it more FUN.

I'm the coach and manager for the office ball team. The ball team just started up again this year. Go Mighty Clucks Go.

Darlene Stevens, CEIU 20947 - HRCC Nanaimo

I am now the 2nd VP for my local, the local women's rep, a shop steward, and the Women's District Co-ordinator for Vancouver Island.  I was on the strike committee and a picket captain for the last strike. I was on the balloting committee for the ratification vote. I am a delegate to the BC PSAC triennial convention. 

And I continue to take on new roles as they arrise.

Mandi Schubert, NHWU 20017 - Victoria

In 2003, I was selected to be a Youth Outreach Coordinator within our local. My first union function was the 2003 PSAC National Convention that I attended as an observer. Since that time, I have desired to continue being a part of that sense of togetherness of members, and the Solidarity and passion that I saw within people. I have continued to promote youth issues in this region, and successfully established a youth network on South Vancouver Island. Since then I have held various positions such as Local Vice President, Area Strike Coordinator, and my current position as Local President. I continue to participate in as many different union campaigns as possible, even if it is just distributing information.

Mandi & Family

I have greatly enjoyed all my experiences so far within our union, I have been left with a feeling of enrichment and fulfillment in my life, that all people I have met have graciously offered that extension of kindness and support.

Sheri Cornelius, CEIU 20949

Sheri and other young workers march in the May Day parade

As a result of the Youth Caucus and the YOUR training, I became CEIU Metro Van District Director as well as attended the PSAC H&S Convention as a Youth delegate.

It also convinced me to participate in the Young Workers H&S and Labour History with BC Fed and I have facilitated in 6 different Highschools in the GVRD. It also provided me with more knowledge and gave me more confidence in my union roles.

Sarah Redd, UTE 20026

Sarah is now the President of UTE Local 20026 Southern Interior of B.C. at the age of 25! She was the alternate Area Strike Co-ordinator for her local at the Kelowna site. She is highly involved in the activities of her local, education, membership, employment equity, developing their local website, being an activist, participating in a lot of the PSAC and UTE courses, and has taken a genuine interest in the members and what the union can do for the members.  When Sarah saw how much work needed to be done, she thought she would be up for the challenge.

Sarah at the UTE President's Conference

Michael Bob, CEIU 20947 - HRCC Nanaimo

I am vice president of the youth union, had participated in the strike as a picket captain. Help out with any union issues when asked. I am also part of the Diversity Committee for the organization, in this committee we help recognize people with disabilities and visible minorities in the community and government.