Employee rights could be taught in schools
Thu 11 Sep 2008 at 2:20 PM
Employee rights could be taught in schools
Employee rights should be taught in schools, one union chief has said.
Bill Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has asked delegates at the Trades Union Councils' conference to support the initiative, Personnel Today has reported.
"Young people are the most likely to suffer injuries at work or be taken advantage of by employers as they are the least likely to know their employment rights," he explained.
His call for union reps to speak in schools was welcomed - the TUC voted in favour of his motion.
It said: "Addressing the lack of understanding of the role that trade unions play is vital if young people are to be properly protected at work".
Employers are often keen to lower costs, sometimes by limiting pay increases – this sometimes causes friction between bosses and union members.
Union membership is voluntary for workers in industrial jobs. Membership has fallen from 13 million in 1979 to 5.5 million more recently, a report from the Work Foundation has revealed.
