DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 1

Trade Union Youth and the situation of young

people in Germany

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 2

Trade Unions in Germany

The trade unions in Germany are organized on

two main principles:

unions are not divided by political issues, religion, origins or social background

the unions are organized in branches of trade one company = one trade union

3

The Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) is the umbrella-organisation of eight unions, which are organized according to their industry sectors

Every trade union has its own youth organisation

All branch youth organizations are members of the DGB youth

Independent structures within DGB (own congress, committee, etc.)

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Bereich Jugend

Structure: Branches & Umbrella

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Bereich Jugend

DGB Youth represents adolescents and young adults.

- Apprentices, workers, employees, pupils, students, military and civil service and the unemployed

- The membership currently stands at about 485,000 (young members of the DGB trade unions)

The youth organization has some independence - on the other hand it is part of the organization

Important: Young volunteers in companies („JAV“) are protected by Works Constitution Act

DGB Youth

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 5

Key Issues of DGB Youth

Addressing young people before and during their entry into working life

Lobbying for young people's interests: good education and good work

Run-out to schools, working with pupils councils and teachers

Support and advice of unemployed young people

Youth Education

International and European activities

Work against racism / remembrance, understanding and reconciliation work

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 6

The structure of apprenticeship is changing – it is more and more difficult to reach the trainees within their factories

Therefore DGB youth is going to vocational schools, where we reach almost 100 % of all trainees

Often the first contact of trainees with trade unions

Information about the work of trade unions & education on topics such as participation, collective agreements, rights of trainees etc.

Successful strategy: Being present and active on the school-ground gained four times more memeberships for the branches of trade unions.

Key Issues of DGB YouthEducation in vocational-schools

DGB-Bundesvorstand, Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 7

Target group: Students as workers (2,2 mio. students in Germany and 66% are working)

Homepage: Information concerning questions on “study and job” and internships

DGB Youth offers legal advice online and on-site as well as seminars, workshops, training

Over 50 DGB Youth Offices on the campuses for legal advice and also political education

Cooperation with student organisation like German Students Union

Political topics: against tuition fees, BAföG, education policy, labour market policy

Key Issues of DGB YouthStudents at work

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 8

Dr. Azubi

online consulting services since 2005

10-20 requests per day

initial contact with trade union youth

Key Issues of DGB YouthApprenticeship situation and quality of training

The DGB Report:

„Quality of Apprenticeships“

Published annually since 2006

more than 12,000 interviews

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 9

“Generation precarious”:

Precarious Generation: Only 37 percent of young workers (up to 30 years old) are in a permanent employment relationship and receive an income of at least € 2000 gross per month.

41% of young workers regularly work more than 5 hours of overtime per week.

56% of young workers have the impression that more and more work has to be done in the same time within the last years.

Sick to work: 70% of young employees went once or even more often to work despite illness - within the last twelve months. *

* DGB-Index Gute Arbeit für junge Beschäftigte 2012.

Situation of young people in Germany – the background

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik

Tag der Ansage – Jugend macht Ansagen

Political Campaign

Adressing the politicians and parties with our demands and needs before the German elections

Seminars, conferences and common events and action in this field

Resolution of the DGB Youth, can be signed by politicians (205 MP’s have signed so far)

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik

Tag der Ansage – Jugend macht Ansagen

Action day, 16. March, 2013

Common and coordinated action in six cities at the same time

Demonstrations and fancy innovative streets actions

Radio ballet, flash mobs, etc.

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik

Latest international activities of the DGB Youth

Alter Summit, July, 2013

Organisation of Alter Summit in Berlin with ETUC and French Trade Unions

More than 300 young people from out whole Europe were involved

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 15

Campaign for fair Internship Lobbying and Publicity Activities so far:

Homepage: information, online-consulting and

online-portal company-rating Publications: booklets an folders Developed a guideline: “code for

practice for a fair internship” Conferences with interns, politicians and

in the parliamentary on this issue Political demands of the DGB for fair

internships an fair career entry (election campaign)

European Network on precarious young workers

* Translation: 56 % of the interns consider internships as a modern way of exploitation

Key Issues of DGB YouthGeneration Internship

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 16

Member of Youth Committee of European (ETUC) and International Trade Union Confederation (PERC/ ITUC)

International Working group of DGB Youth

International Youth Work/ Youth education with young Trade Unionists of other countries, e.g.:

- “Balkan Project” supported by FES

- Exchange with the Trade Unionists of Israel

- Qualification Program “Europe Step by Step”

- Cooperation with GLU

- Egypt Working Group

Cooperation with Social Movements

Photos. above: Seminar with students of Global Labour University 2011; below: European Social Forum 2010 in Istanbul.

Key Issues of DGB YouthInternational Youth Work

Photos: above: Seminar with students of Global Labour University 2011; below: European Social Forum 2010 in Istanbul.

DGB-Bundesvorstand * Abteilung Jugend und Jugendpolitik 18

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