Laura Grady, Una Togher and Karolina Sacharczuk from team In Focus from St. Joseph ' s SS 2
School life can be difficult enough without the stresses of work to add to them. That’ s where we at Youth Connect come in. We have champions in every region of the country to listen to you and offer advice. We run workshops that help to inform the students of their rights as workers, as well giving a brief insight into history of the Trade Union movement. We decided to sit down and speak with some of our champions from around the country to try and get an insight into their daily lives and the importance of what they do.
CHAMPIONS
Joanne Kenny
South East Champion
What is it that a Youth Connect Champion does?
We at Youth Connect talk to students about the World of Work. We facilitate workshops in schools and discuss worker ' s rights and responsibilities, focusing on what students are entitled to in their part time jobs and any future work they do. We also teach students about what they can do if they are being denied these rights and are being treated unfairly, specifically examining the role of Trade Unions and Industrial Relations. We also look at inequality in the Working World, discrimination at work, work in other countries, health and safety etc.
Have you heard many bad stories from some of the students?
Yes and to be honest they seem to be getting worse and more frequent. I have heard so many stories where students are working cash in hand for as little as 2 or 3 euro, students who work 10 or 12 hour shifts with no breaks, are expected to stay later than they should for their age, don ' t receive holidays or holiday pay and with no proper training or relevant safety equipment. It ' s not only in part time work but even work placement. Many students in TY, LCA and LCVP for example, participate in work placements as part of their course. These students also being exploited and treated unfairly. Through this programme it highlights these problems and makes students aware of these issues and rights that they are entitled to. It also gives them a place to discuss their problems and teaches them ways to solve them. If you are based in the South East region and would be interested in having Joanne come out to your class, feel free to email her at: southeastregion @ youth-connect. ie
Joanne Kenny South East Champion
Is there any message you would like to share with the readers?
I ' d like your readers to know about this great programme we offer. Our workshops are very important for student welfare but is also curricular based and covers a variety of subjects such as LCA, LCVP, Business, TY, C. S. P. E., History etc. We also talk to students in Further Education and Third level. Our programme is free for schools and we also give a free resource pack to teachers filled with great information, resources and lesson plans that can be utilised. It ' s really important students know that they have rights in the work place just like any other worker.
If you, or any of your friends or family feel you are not being treated correctly in the workplace, please don ' t hesitate to contact us directly to our office at info @ youthconnect. ie 018897766, your local YouthConnect champion or your local trade union rep via www. unionconnect. ie
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