85 Young members

Submitted by National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

Congress is deeply concerned that almost a million young people are out of work, and according to the BERR 2008 trade union membership report, union densities of younger age groups are falling.

Congress notes the status, role and purpose of the TUC Young Members’ Conference and Young Members Forum is recognised under rules, including:

i) the yearly Young Members’ Conference comprises delegates from affiliated unions and the purpose of the conference is to advise the General Council

ii) affiliated unions are entitled to submit issues for discussion to this conference and these in turn form statements which are considered by the General Council

iii) the Young Members’ Forum, which meets regularly throughout the year, is an advisory committee to the General Council, comprised of General Council members and representatives from affiliated trade unions.

Congress also notes the STUC Youth Conference is entitled to send motions to the STUC annual Congress.

Congress believes the recruitment and representation of young members will be enhanced by giving young members a voice at annual Congress and instructs the General Council, in consultation with the Young Members’ Forum, to implement a rule change which will have the effect of allowing the Young Members’ Conference to submit one motion to annual Congress in similar fashion to the arrangements that exist for the equalities conferences and the Trades Union Councils Conference.

This rule change should take effect so that the Young Members’ Conference will be able to submit a motion to the 2010 annual Congress.