FROM WHERE I STAND...
Putting record straight over ‘layabout’ slur on our youth...
By Derek Keenan Chair, CWU & ICTU Youth Committee ON November 9 the youth committees of the CWU, Mandate and the TEEU held a protest outside the gates of the Dail in order to draw attention to the fact that the Department of Social Protection had sent correspondence to unemployed workers relating to job opportunities abroad. Innocuous enough some might say, but when one considers the letters within the context of the recent budgetary decisions taken by the Government, a far more insidious picture begins to emerge. In the weeks leading up to the budget it was clear that young people were going to be in the firing line. The kite-flying had begun early and the ideologically groundwork prepared, as the Government sought to justify an attack on those who had no hand act or part in creating the current economic mess. But someone needed to be blamed for the stubbornly high rate of youth unemployment and political expedience on the part of the Government dictated that blame was to be placed solely at the door of the unemployed themselves. Unemployment was de-politicised, presented as an individual problem and not a structural problem Our young were vilified, crudely depicted as layabouts who couldn’t be dragged away from their flat-screen TVs for long enough to notice the line of employers who were beating at their doors offering them jobs. Incentivisation became the new buzzword in debates about youth un-
‘What actually made this assertion particularly galling was the fact that few in government actually believed that this was true’
Voice of youth: November 9 Dail protest
employment and formed part of the justificatory spin employed to explain why it was necessary to cut the rate of Jobseekers Allowance applicable to those under 26. This, the Government argued, would encourage young people to get “off the couch” and get back into work, edu-
cation or training. The message from the Government was clear, if you were unemployed and not engaged in any of the above, it was because you were staying on the dole as a lifestyle choice. What made this assertion particularly galling was the fact that few in gov-
ernment actually believed that this was true. They knew well that it was patently untrue. They knew well that before the economic crisis Ireland enjoyed one of the highest youth employment rates across the Eurozone. They knew well that there were 32
unemployed people for every one job vacancy and they were acutely aware that there was nowhere near sufficient a quantity of relevant training or education places for the unemployed to avail of. Furthermore, by acting as an unofficial recruitment agent for international employers, the Government implicitly recognised that, despite the rhetoric, they had nothing to offer young people and yet they still cut their dole. The Government showed that they may have been bereft of ideas but certainly not of scapegoats. Unfortunately politics in Ireland has always been a cynical game and a whole generation of young people are now learning that the hard way.
Adult Education Courses for the Workplace
Mandate Trade Union with the VEC network is offering a programme of Training Courses called Skills for Work. Skills for Work offers members the opportunity to get back into education at their own pace with a wide range of courses to choose from. Each course has 6 – 8 participants and may be held locally and outside of working hours. Some of the courses include:
Communication Skills/ Personal Development and Effectiveness
For those who want to brush up on their writing and spelling skills while you develop personal and interpersonal skills which are important for dealing with workplace situations and improve communications in everyday life situations
Maths
Perhaps you’d like to brush up on your everyday maths, including home budgets, tax and weights/measures.
Communication through Computers
This course is ideal for adults just learning about computers and confidence for communicating online.
Please tick the box or boxes of the courses which interest you and return this form with your details to: Mandate’s Organising and Training Centre Distillery House, Distillery Road, Dublin 3 Phone 01-8369699, email mandateotc@mandate.ie
December 2013
y SHOPFLOOR
Name
Address
Workplace Location Phone
Courses are free and open to members who have not achieved Leaving Certificate or who have an out of date Leaving Certificate. You can also achieve a FETAC Level 3 Award. Skills for Work is funded by the Department of Education & Skills
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