UNISON Northern Ireland

Young Members’ Forum

UNISON has around 63,000 young members. If you are a UNISON member and under 27 years of age you are automatically entitled to participate as a young member.

Young members’ groups work to:

  • encourage recruitment, organisation and participation of young workers
  • provide a powerful voice for young members
  • give young members the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in the union.

As a young member you are supported by a union of 1.3 million members who can assist you with support, training, advice and guidance.

UNISON encourages young members to get involved in every level of the organisation. At regional level young members get together to plan and organise campaigns and discuss ideas and experiences.

The national young members’ forum includes two representatives from each region, and the young members’ representative on the national executive council. The forum ensures that young members have a strong voice within UNISON and are represented in every tier of the organisation.

Campaigning

Young members make a difference in the workplace by campaigning on the issues that affect them directly, such as job security and training, apprenticeships, workplace rights, pay and conditions problems and bullying. As a young member you can take part in all UNISON campaigns.

You can join us and help to organise events for campaigns.

As a young member you also have the power to act against inequality or discrimination in the workplace and improve conditions for all.

As a young worker, you may find it hard to make a difference at work. Being a member of UNISON and our vibrant young members’ group means that you are able to make real changes in your workplace.

Young members have groups right across the country. The focus of these groups is to identify and stand up for issues that affect young people.

Here you can read about our young member Member Sinead Liddy who spoke at the 2017 National Delegate Conference.


NEWS FLASH - Young Members Newsletter 2023


Young Members weekend June 2019

The Young Members Weekend took place in Belfast from 10th to 12th May. There were 11 representatives from the Northern Ireland region.

Our young members opened the conference and gave a political overview of the region and difficulties face by them in their campaigns. They also invited Alliance for Choice to deliver a session at the start of the conference which set the tone for the rest of the weekend.

This was the first year the weekend was conducted as a “mock” conference. This was to prepare our young members for conferences, to understand how they operate, the purpose of a motion and speaking on motions.  The workshops were focused on motion writing, motions and UNISON structures, standing orders committee, mapping workshop and communicating a clear vision.

 

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