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 Come to the Socilaist Youth 2006 Summer Festival
The Socialist

This year’s Socialist Youth Summer Festival in Rathdrum, County Wicklow is set to be the biggest and best so far!

The event has become an important part of Socialist Youth’s calendar. The festival gives young people who oppose the corruption and destruction of capitalism the chance to discuss socialist ideas and how to fight back against this system.

This year’s summer festival takes place at a time when all across the world young people’s and workers’ rights and living standards are under attack. Our young workers’ rights campaigns, North and South, have highlighted many cases of young people being faced with brutal exploitation. Internationally, Bush and Blair’s occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq for oil, prestige and profit continue at the expense of now over 150,000 lives in Iraq. Our environment is increasingly threatened with catastrophe as the insatiable greed for profit of big business has no concern for the future of our planet.

All of these crucial issues for young people will be discussed at our festival. On Saturday morning, we will discuss whether nuclear power is a solution to the energy crisis as Tony Blair is now trumpeting. One of Monday morning’s meetings will discuss how imperialism can be defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan. The issue of young workers’ rights will be a theme running through the whole event, from the young workers’ rally on Friday night to the workshop on Saturday afternoon about how young and migrant workers can fight exploitation at work.

The other feature of the world situation and our youth festival, is the fightback being waged by young people and workers internationally. Millions of young people have taken to the streets in France, Chile and Greece, which will be discussed at our opening rally with international speakers on "The International Youth revolt". The continent-wide revolt in Latin America against the policies of neo-liberalism will be discussed on Sunday morning. The inspiring struggle of the Turkish GAMA workers will also feature with a presentation of the documentary DVD, "The GAMA Strike – a victory for all workers", introduced by Joe Higgins TD.

Other key issues that affect young people on a day to day basis will also be discussed, from "The case for a school students’ union", to "Young people and sexual attitudes in the 21st century" and "Young people and police harassment – whose interests do the police serve?"

This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know like-minded people from all over Ireland, North and South. On the opening night, there will be a barbecue and live music after the rally. Saturday and Sunday evenings will feature a variety of bands and DJs. There will also be space during the day for a rematch of last year’s hard-fought football match, a trip to the beach and watching DVDs like "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".

If you’re opposed to what’s happening in Ireland and around the world, and are interested in finding out how to fight back as well as meeting people like you, this is an event you truly cannot afford to miss.

Why I’m Going

"I will be going to the Socialist Youth Summer Festival as it gives me the opportunity to discuss and debate my views and opinions on a diverse range of issues such as international protest movements, attacks on young workers’ rights and the ideas of socialism with other young people. This is why I would encourage as many young people as possible to join me at this event." - James Gunn, Belfast Socialist Youth

"I’m really looking forward to the debate with Ogra Shinn Fein and Labour Youth about socialism because I’m really interested in what they would say and because it’s an extremely important issue as to how socialism can be achieved – hopefully it’ll be a really good debate." - Conor Payne, Dublin Socialist Youth

"Socialist Youth means a lot to me. I find so many of the campaigns so interesting because they’re more relevant to people’s everyday lives than most of us realise. This is why I intend to go to the SY summer festival in August! It’ll be great to have a chance to meet other people who feel the way I do about things, and just to be able to have a good time while learning more about some of the most pressing and important issues facing young people today." - Ashleigh Brennan, Dundalk Socialist Youth
Socialist Youth News
Young worker speaks out against exploitation & low pay
Socialist Youth interview with Graham Lee

Over the past number of weeks, the Organise! campaign has been taking to the streets distributing our leaflet on young workers’ rights. We are seeking to highlight the increased attacks on the wages and working conditions of young workers and help them to get organised in their workplaces.

Recently a number of young workers from a record shop in Dublin approached the Organise! campaign in order to get help in unionising their shop due to how they are treated by their employer. Graham Lee, one of the workers spoke to The Socialist about their experiences.

How are you treated in your workplace?

I suppose generally we are not whipped or anything but we are treated like second class citizens and that you’re not really needed. Recently I got three warnings in one week for being late, so I got €70 taken from my wages. The heating in the workplace was broken throughout the whole of the winter last year, which means it was freezing there. They also have a complete disregard for the health and safety of the staff. We were made to do security work even though it wasn't in our contract and we weren't trained to do it.

Why did you decide to join a trade union?

The employer makes it very difficult for you if you don't play ball with them. There is stuff in the contract about deducting your wages, which I think is illegal. They have no sick pay scheme. The employer began to throw their weight around recently. They make it very clear that you are out of there if you give them any hassle, so I thought it would be important to protect my rights by joining a union.

What's your message to young people who would be in a similar situation?

Make your sure you know your rights and never trust your employer. Basically I didn't figure what my rights are until recently. Now I know what my rights are. I would definitely encourage any young person to join a trade union and not to be intimidated by your bosses as I was up until recently.

The Organise Manifesto for young workers rights

• For a minimum wage of €12 an hour with no youth or apprentice exemptions

• An end to all bullying and harassment at work

• Full pay for breaks and no unpaid work after hours

• Full employment rights from day one at work

• End discrimination against apprentices- no to fees, full employment rights and end breaking of service

• Full employment right for all agency workers. All workers should be directly employed

• Time and half for overtime, double time for Sundays, days not normally worked and public holidays

• For minimum two weeks notice of work roster

• End the super exploitation of migrant workers, no to "race to the bottom"

• Organise young workers in fighting trade unions to protect the rights of all workers

If you are exploited in your workplace, or would like to find out your rights and entitlements, contact Organise! on 087 1274315

Socialist Youth News
Socialist Youth launched in Cork
Andrew Harrington, Cork Socialist Youth

Saturday 1 July saw the launch of Socialist Youth in Cork with a public meeting on the Legacy of Che Guevara with over 30 people in attendance.

Many of those at the meeting expressed an interest in joining Socialist Youth. Before the meeting, we held a stall in the city centre on the occupation of Iraq and the use of Shannon airport for CIA torture flights.

The meeting was a lively one with diverse issues being discussed such as whether or not Socialist Youth’s demand for €12 an hour minimum wage was realistic and what was the future for Cuba. We also discussed what the new Socialist Youth group in Cork could do this summer.