THE Young Socialists completed the final leg of their 248-mile March For Jobs from London to the TUC Congress in Liverpool yesterday mid-day.
Birmingham and West Midlands GMB Regional Secretary, Joe Morgan and colleagues warmly welcomed the marchers and said: ‘We need the Young Socialists to keep us on our toes because we get complacent and we fully support the demands for a General Strike.’
Earlier, the march entered the Albert Docks, where they met TUC General Secretary, Francis O’Grady.
She was asked by the marchers to ‘Name the date for the General Strike!’ She smiled and walked away.
Before the march set off, a group of blacklisted workers organised in UCATT, brought their banner and marched with the YS marchers all the way to the TUC.
Tony Sweeney, a retired builder, blacklisted in the building trade for his trade union activities, said: ‘I attended the GMB Justice meeting on Saturday. I met the marchers and was very impressed
‘We need employment for everyone. There are a million youth unemployed. You have to work to live.’
George Riley UCATT member said: ‘I am joining the march to support these youngsters who have done a fantastic job to march all the way from London to Liverpool. Youth need jobs.’
John Flanagan, also UCATT said: ‘The young members are inspirational to the older generation and to the trade union movement. I support this march for jobs.’
The marchers got a tremendous response from a crowd of Liverpool shoppers who joined in with the march as it made its way to the TUC, shouting: ‘Youth Demand Jobs! We won’t work for free! Youth demand a future! We are not slaves! We won’t pay tuition fees – education must be free! Low pay – no way! Trade union rates of Pay!’
A young mum from Liverpool, brought her two children on the march, one of which put on a March for Jobs T-shirt.
Martine Griffiths said: ‘As a young mum that had to incur the expense of tuition fees, I would hate for my children to be put off from going to University because of the fee. I put off going to university for 10 years, while I worked and saved money and I would hate for my children to have to do the same.
‘When I was on benefits I was faced with either tuition fees, or zero hour contract work. You are stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was my university course that finally got me out of that situation. So I had to come on the march and Lobby the TUC. When I see people fighting for a cause which is my own then I have to join them.’
Delegates spoke to YS marchers as they were lobbied going into the conference.
Marina Gunn, Unite delegate said: ‘I totally back the YS March for Jobs. I am in Unite and work for RBS. I totally support the call for a general strike. Everybody is human, they need a proper wage for a proper job and proper hours and permanent employment, with holiday and sick pay not zero-hours contracts.
‘Youth are very interested in what’s going on, claims that they don’t care are rubbish. The march should have the right to address the TUC.’
Branch Secretary of Merseyside CWU, Mark Walsh, said: ‘I commend the efforts of the marchers to highlight the problem of youth unemployment.
‘Youth are the future of the trade union movement and it is all about inclusion. I support the call for a general strike, because we are not happy with the situation we have. We should renationalise the Post Office.’
David Wilshire, Bristol and District CWU Branch Secretary, said: ‘All the employers get together to attack the working class, so all the unions should get together to beat the employers.’
David Hopper, NUM, Northumberland, said: ‘We need a general strike to get rid of the government or we will march our feet off.
‘We needed one during the miners strike. We, the people, are looking for change. I will ask for the right of the YS marchers to address the Congress and our delegation will support your right.’
Lee Pimble, United Road Transport Union (URTU), said: ‘Because the YS have marched all that way from London they deserve the right to be heard by the TUC Congress.’
Rob Bell, USDAW, said: ‘I support the right of the YS marchers to address the TUC Congress and I will be raising it.’
His colleague, Helen Gringall, also USDAW, said: ‘I support the YS demand for workers rights and against low pay and every young person should have the right to belong to a union. Places like McDonald’s and Marks and Spencer don’t even recognise the union.’
Mark Baker, ATL President, stopped to support the YS marchers and said: ‘It can’t be right that there are 1.4 million workers on zero-hour contracts.
‘There is no future for young people if they are to be crippled by massive student fee debts.’