Young trade unionists of the Americas meet to discuss the future!

Held on 23 to 25 May 2009 in Lima, Peru, this was the second regular meeting of the Workers Youth Committee of the Americas.

Promoted by the Trade Union Confederation of Americas (TUCA), a regional organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the meeting included representatives from 14 different countries.

Among these the following trade unions were present: CGT and CTA (Argentina) and CUT and Força Sindical (Brazil) CUT (Chile), CLC (Canada), CGT and CUT (Colombia), AFL-CIO (USA); CROC and CNT (Mexico); CNT (Paraguay); CGTP and CTRP (Panama); CATP-ANP and CUT (Peru), CASC (Dominican Rep.), CTV (Venezuela). Also present were representatives of the following organizations: ISCOOD (of Peru), TUCA (from Brazil and Costa Rica offices), ITUC (from Belgium office) and ILO (from Colombia and Peru offices).

The dynamics of activity included a workshop for 2 days, followed by a meeting the final day.

The workshop had the theme "Strategies for Organizing Youth Workers and the Politics of First Job."

Also discussed at the workshop were important issues such as:

– The employment situation of youth in the region;
– Regulatory framework on youth, Decent Work and first job;
– Experiences of the unions in relation to the laws of first job in the region;
– Inter-American network on youth employment;
– Successful experiences in union affiliation for youth.

Those invited to discuss the theme included technical officers of ILO-Peru; the youth coordinator of the ITUC, Philippe Gousenbourger; the Secretary of Trade Union Policies and Education, Amanda Villatoro; and the General Secretary of TUCA, Victor Baez.

On the last day of the event the Second Ordinary Meeting of the Worker Youth Committee of the Americas took place. This contributed to the organization and planning of new initiatives that will strengthen the work of the union youth involved, such as calls for action for the forthcoming "World Day for Decent Work" the 7th of October.