Young People and Work
Young people are often treated unfairly at work
Most of us work to support ourselves whilst studying and have had an experience at work which has left us feeling powerless and demoralised. Not being paid on time, being stuffed around with shifts, being sacked unfairly or for no reason, not getting a fair wage, and generally being treated like crap are common issues people face in today's workforce. But they are more common amongst young people, partly due to the high number of people aged between 19-25 who work in casual jobs.
Although most of us appreciate the flexibility of casual work, we don't like being treated like waged slaves, nor should we have to put up with it. In Australia, workers have rights and the most important right is the right to organise collectively and fight for better wages and working conditions.
Unions are organisations whose members are ordinary workers like you whose roll it is to help people fight discrimination and exploitation in the workplace. By joining a union you not only ensure that you can get help from them if you need it, but you will also become a part of a long and proud tradition of collective struggle for better treatment at work.
It is statistically true that young people who belong to a union on average earn 20% per cent more than ones that don't. This clearly indicates that collective bargaining works - as do all those conditions we take for granted today that union members before us have fought for - things like penalty rates, regular breaks, public holidays, superannuation, and protection against unfair dismissal and harassment.
Think back to all those times when your shifts were re-arranged without any notice and you had to argue with your boss about it. Think about times when you were forced to work overtime without getting paid for it, or when you weren't given enough hours to pay the rent. We've all been in these situations and wished there was someone there to back us up, someone to help fight the injustice of it all.
Joining your union can help make your workplace a better place. You'd be surprised by what you are entitled to and what some bosses get away with. For example, did you know there is no such thing as unpaid trial work? It's illegal.
Of course, just like everything in life, nothing comes on a silver platter. Just joining a union will not instantly make your working life better - you have to be prepared to fight for it. But at least you will know that you have support from people whose interest lies in helping you, not making profits out of you.
You gotta fight for your right to party!
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