Young members gather at conference in Newcastle

Young members from across the UK gathered in Newcastle over the weekend for the third annual UNISON young members’ conference. The conference was the first to take place after the age-limit for young members was increased to 30 and under (from 26) via a rule amendment at this year’s national delegate conference. At the time, UNISON’s young members officer Josephine Grahl said: “The increase in age reflects the changes in the workforce that have happened since UNISON’s first young members’ groups were established in 1996″. And she added that these included: “The increase in school leaving age, the expansion of participation in higher and further education, and the fact that the public sector workforce tends, these days, to be older than the average”. The change reflects the fact that, on average, young people are achieving milestones in their lives later than in previous generations. A 2019 Office of National Statistics report: Journeying into adulthood highlighted a number of examples. In 1998, on average, people left full-time education at 17.8 years old – in 2018 this was 19.3. In 1997 it was not until the age of 26 that 50% of people lived in a home they own – in 2017, this was 34. In 1997 the average age of a first-time mother was 27 – in 2016 this was 29. (The average age of a first-time father is not easily calculated). The last of these examples highlights an issue that took centre stage at last weekend’s conference. A motion on ...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article News 2023 National Young Members Conference maternity pay national young members forum Source Type: news