Schools should teach employment rights, says union

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/ ... union.html

A motion put forward by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) called on the TUC conference to back calls for trade union studies to be put in the national curriculum and support union speakers in schools. The motion was carried by delegates at the union event in Brighton.

The motion stated: "Congress believes that support for young members is crucial to the future of the trade union movement. Addressing the lack of understanding of the role that trade unions play is vital if young people are to be properly protected at work".

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: "Young people are the most likely to suffer injuries at work or be taken advantage of by employers as they are the least likely to know their employment rights.

"Trade unions continue to play a crucial role in both industrial and civil society. It is vital that we address the lack of understanding of the role that trade unions play if young people are to be properly protected at work.

"We believe that the government should increase the opportunities to learn about the role of trade unions within the national curriculum and increase support for trade union speakers going into schools and colleges."
Mike Berry (About this Author)

[mailsort6]

In some schools children are taught about the trade union movement but this is very basic and it is usual taught in history lessons. I think that employment law should be taught in schools to children between the ages of 15-16 years old because they need to know their employment rights before they go out into the world of work. What also get me is that there are alot of postgraduate students that enter the world of work and don't even know their employment rights and find themselves being dismissed within less than a year and what they do not realise is that they cannot take their case to an employment tribunal unless it is for discrimination. The work place now a days is a competitive place and some employees not only have problems with their employers but also with other colleagues, therefore, young people do need to know their employments rights and where to go to if they have any employment rights issues.

[norbert]

In some schools children are taught about the trade union movement but this is very basic and it is usual taught in history lessons. I think that employment law should be taught in schools to children between the ages of 15-16 years old because they need to know their employment rights before they go out into the world of work. What also get me is that there are alot of postgraduate students that enter the world of work and don't even know their employment rights and find themselves being dismissed within less than a year and what they do not realise is that they cannot take their case to an employment tribunal unless it is for discrimination.

Well said.

Thatcher's children