Socialist Youth News - North
Socialist Youth say: Re-instate sacked JJB shop steward

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Paddy Meehan, Belfast SY

JJB Sports have sacked a shop steward, Chris Riley, following a successful five-day strike in Wigan. The action taken by JJB Sports came only a few weeks after the signing of a deal that included a “no victimisation” clause. The predominantly young workers in the depot that supplies all of the UK and Northern Ireland have balloted to go on strike again.

Socialist Youth’s Fight Back! Campaign held a picket of JJB Sports store in Belfast city centre against the victimisation of Chris Riley. The Fight Back! Campaign opposes the tactics of JJB Sports to stop young workers getting organised against their conditions.

One of the main shareholders in JJB Sports, David Whelan (chairman of Wigan Athletic) has continually attacked young workers’ rights. The workers had been asking for more than minimum wage and better conditions, including a day off in case of bereavement. However management had refused these minor demands despite making profits of £18.2 million in the first six months of 2006 alone!

Dave Whelan has the nerve to declare that the workers are living in ‘cuckoo land’. For someone who is worth £200 million it is insane to think that he could understand what it is like to live on minimum wage.

After the five-day strike, workers in the depot gained an extra £1.05 an hour, better bonus wages and bereavement leave. This victory is an example to young workers everywhere, that if you do struggle, you can win major gains.

The refusal of management to implement the deal and the sacking of GMB shop steward Chris Riley are a direct attack on the recent gains of these young workers. These attempts to undercut wages and smash the union are methods used to further increase the massive profits of big business. This is an attack not just on JJB Sports workers but on young workers everywhere and it must be resisted.

Bosses need to realise that when they try to trample on workers’ rights, they will not get away with it. Young workers will not put up with poor pay, terrible conditions and next to no job security. If you want to get involved in the protest against JJB Sports or have any information about bad employers, then contact Socialist Youth’s Fight Back! Campaign at socialist_youth@hotmail.com or 02890 232962.

Socialist Youth demands:

- Stop all victimisation of trade unionists

- Trade union rights for all workers

- Reinstate Chris Riley NOW!

- A decent living wage for all

Socialist Youth News - North
Council ignores youth needs

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Gerry Maguire, Enniskillen SY

Enniskillen has a population of around 14,000 and around 24% of these people are minors. For such a population, the town has very few amenities for its young people.

In recent years, this has become something of a personal issue for me. I believe these facilities should be provided to young people. Various charitable organisations, including the Erne Music Collective, have tried to accommodate them. However, this mission has proved exceptionally hard.
Previously, the EMC approached Fermanagh District Council to try and secure a permanent venue for underage events in order to do away with renting licensed premises.

The Council’s reply was that there is already an active youth centre in Enniskillen (active in this case means opening during normal school hours and closing at 4.30 pm, weekdays). The NI Arts Council told us that their current budget didn’t concentrate on our area. Fermanagh Shadow Youth Council has repeatedly brought the issue up but still no action has been taken.

Last year Socialist Youth meetings took place to discuss what could really be done about this. With the formation of a Socialist branch in Enniskillen, I believe this is just one of the many working class issues that can be resolved for the area.

Socialist Youth News - North
Build campaign to scrap tuition fees

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Kevin Henry, Queens Socialist Society

This month students’ respective universities will rob them of £1,500, for the second time this year.

The introduction of tuition fees resulted in 19,000 fewer students’ which means a 4.5% drop in the last year. In particular, the number of students from lower income households is down by 7.4%. Even students receiving the maximum loan are expected to live on £4,000 less than a worker living on minimum wage, forcing many students to work almost full time hours in "Mc jobs"(non-unionised and basic conditions). This results in students under performing, with students 35% more likely to receive a 2.2 degree. On top of this of course, students have to deal with high rent, increase in fuel and electricity prices.

This attack is an effort by the New Labour government to create an American model for third level education where the Oxbridge universities will, like the Ivy league, be able to charge large amounts, while others will charge less (although still high) creating some universities for the rich and under funded ones for the rest of us. This was made clear at the start of the academic year when vice chancellors from Oxford, Cambridge and Bristol said they would petition the government to raise the maximum fee to £5,000 per year!

Despite the cowardly antics of the student unions’ leaders, there is a real willingness to struggle on this issue. The demos in October that the NUS ran in England attracted more than 20,000 students, despite the failure of the leadership to mobilise effectively. The example internationally in France, Greece and Chile shows not only that students are prepared to struggle, but also they can win.

What’s needed is a mass movement of demonstrations and occupations involving students, education workers and staff, parents and all who stand for free education. This is why Socialist Students in England and Wales have launched a campaign to defeat fees and Queens Socialist Society will also be campaigning. Now the task is to build for the day of action on the 22 February with meetings, leafleting and protests on the day.