Young union activists celebrate International Youth Day

Here are some of the highlights:

• The unveiling of a new bell at the flag of peace monument at the International Children’s Park in Sofia, Bulgaria on 10 August was the initiative of the Federation of Transport Trade Unions in Bulgaria (FTTUB) youth committee and members of the ITF youth committee on behalf of the Maritime Union of Australia. Read more. 

• A football match between organised and unorganised road transport workers, hosted by the Nepal Trade Union Congress youth committee and involving young workers from Nepal Yatayat Mazdoor Sangh (NETWON). It aimed to encourage young people to stay in the country to work and promote employment opportunities.

• At a workshop run by the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association (BMMOA) several young members agreed to work together to strengthen their role in the union. They will also help to organise the ITF/BMMOA union awareness week in January 2018.

• The Northern Railwaymen's Union (NRMU-AIRF) held an event in New Delhi, India on 11 August to discuss how to boost the role of young members, promote activities on social media, and organise more young workers in Indian Railways.

• Young members of the Indonesia Railway Workers Union celebrated at Purwosari railway station.

• NGO (non-governmental organisation), government, employer and media representatives took part in a Ghana Trade Union Congress symposium on decent work for young workers.

• The General Union of Bahrain Trade Unions (PGFTU) celebrated International Youth Day on 12 August at the New Seasons Hall in Athari Park, Bahrain. 

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton told a FTTUB/youth committee regional youth conference on 9 August: “We want to take the youth energy we experienced in Sofia forward into our Singapore congress and beyond, building even more grassroots power.

"The voice of young transport workers has to formulate a share of our strategy and own our future direction, and we are determined to continue making space for young people to be heard.”

Read more about the FTTUB conference. 

See more on unions’ activities on social media using #ITFYouth, on the ITF young transport workers’ Facebook page and at www.itfyouth.org.