4 October, 2011Under the slogan "loud and strong" 20,000 young people participated on October 1 in Cologne, Germany in the IG Metall Youth Action Day.
GERMANY: At the main rally on Cologne's Neumarkt IG Metall vice chairman Detlef Wetzel said politicians and business leaders have ignored the interests of the young generation for years. "We want to make a sign, so that politicians finally put the concerns of the young generation on the political agenda, making them top priority," said Wetzel.
He called for equitable opportunities for education and training for young people. "We want justice and equality in our society. Safe work - for us that means permanent jobs for trainees," he said. The IG Metall will fight for that in the next bargaining round. The young people demonstrated for what is important to them: better future prospects, permanent jobs, safe and good employment and a livable balance between work and private life.
IG Metall wants to prevent the uncoupling of the young generation from social development. More and more young people are forced into precarious employment, without security or prospects. "If we do not push back precarious employment, it will mean the end of social security systems, even without the coming demographic problems, not immediately, but for the young generation," the union said.
Eric Leiderer, IG Metall National Youth Secretary, said that young people were exploited as the weakest link in society. "It is easiest to cut, dismiss and press wages for young people," said Leiderer. With the campaign for "Übernahme" (take on as permanent worker) the IG Metall wants to show everybody that the young generation has to be taken seriously. "We are not sparring partners, on which companies and politicians can test their cuts, their internships, temporary work or other precarious conditions," said Leiderer.
The IG Metall has summarized their demands in the "Charter for the young generation." For this and other information about the Youth Action Day in Cologne, visit www.igmetall.de and www.operationuebernahme.de.
He called for equitable opportunities for education and training for young people. "We want justice and equality in our society. Safe work - for us that means permanent jobs for trainees," he said. The IG Metall will fight for that in the next bargaining round. The young people demonstrated for what is important to them: better future prospects, permanent jobs, safe and good employment and a livable balance between work and private life.
IG Metall wants to prevent the uncoupling of the young generation from social development. More and more young people are forced into precarious employment, without security or prospects. "If we do not push back precarious employment, it will mean the end of social security systems, even without the coming demographic problems, not immediately, but for the young generation," the union said.
Eric Leiderer, IG Metall National Youth Secretary, said that young people were exploited as the weakest link in society. "It is easiest to cut, dismiss and press wages for young people," said Leiderer. With the campaign for "Übernahme" (take on as permanent worker) the IG Metall wants to show everybody that the young generation has to be taken seriously. "We are not sparring partners, on which companies and politicians can test their cuts, their internships, temporary work or other precarious conditions," said Leiderer.
The IG Metall has summarized their demands in the "Charter for the young generation." For this and other information about the Youth Action Day in Cologne, visit www.igmetall.de and www.operationuebernahme.de.