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Youth Structures In Six European Trade Union Federations: A Short Overview, Kurt Vandaele Jan 2015

Youth Structures In Six European Trade Union Federations: A Short Overview, Kurt Vandaele

Kurt Vandaele

This short contribution focuses on the structures for organizing and representing young workers in six European trade union federations (ETUFs). The reason for this is that recently trade union youth structures have stepped up their efforts, internally and externally, to promote the interests and needs of young workers. At least two motives in particular underlie the reinforcement of existing structures or the establishment of new ones. First of all, the increased prominence of those youth structures should be seen in light of the widespread growth in youth unemployment in Europe and European Commission initiatives, such as the Youth Guarantee, to …


Trade Unions’ ‘Deliberative Vitality’ Towards Young Workers: Survey Evidence Across Europe, Kurt Vandaele Jan 2015

Trade Unions’ ‘Deliberative Vitality’ Towards Young Workers: Survey Evidence Across Europe, Kurt Vandaele

Kurt Vandaele

In Chapter 2, Kurt Vandaele focusses on the integration and participation of young workers in union life and structures. Vandaele uses data from six European Trade Union Federations to provide a comparative perspective of the established relationship between young workers and unions. As he notes, youth trade union structures can be successful and yield results in terms of membership and organising if they are not seen merely as ‘cosmetic constructions’.


Union Responses To Young Workers Since The Great Recession In Ireland, The Netherlands And Sweden: Are Youth Structures Re-Orienting The Union Agenda?, Kurt Vandaele Jan 2013

Union Responses To Young Workers Since The Great Recession In Ireland, The Netherlands And Sweden: Are Youth Structures Re-Orienting The Union Agenda?, Kurt Vandaele

Kurt Vandaele

This article analyses how youth structures at the confederal level of trade unions are influencing the union agenda in the face of the growing problem of youth unemployment in Europe. Five youth structures from union confederations in Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden have been studied. Although youth structures were already able to influence the union agenda in certain confederations before the crisis, the evidence demonstrates that youth issues have gained prominence today. A particular pattern discernible across countries is coalition-building between youth structures and student organizations for guiding the transition of the next generation of young workers from school to …