School students from Tayside, Glasgow and Cumbernauld speak out on the dangers of racism in Scotland

April 20th 2010

School students from Tayside, Glasgow and Cumbernauld speak out on the dangers of racism in Scotland

April 20th 2010

Unions into Schools lunchtime Fringe event on Tuesday 20th April at 2010 STUC Annual Congress

A major focus of the trade union movement in Scotland is its commitment to our next generation of workers and trade unionists through the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Unions into Schools visits programme – coordinated by the STUC and supported by both the trade union affiliates and Unionlearn. Unions into Schools has now provided over 200 classroom sessions to pupils throughout Scotland through their intrepid and dedicated network of trade unionists and STUC staff.

Students have attended and participated in STUC Equality Conferences and the STUC Annual Congress over the last number of years. The Unions into Schools theme for school students at the 2010 STUC Congress is “the challenges and hopes of creating a future free from racism”.

Pupils from Hillhead High, Perth High, Our Lady’s High and Shawlands Academy will all contribute during a Fringe event at lunchtime on Tuesday 20th April in Dundee City Chambers from 12.30 to 2pm, this will be followed by two school students addressing the main Congress auditorium after the fringe event on The Equality Bill and tackling racism in Scottish Society – students have found much common ground with the aspirations and concerns of today’s trade union movement - this can only bring hope for the future of the trade union movement.

This event is part of the STUC’s ‘The Future is Now’ initiative, being launched at this year’s STUC Congress, which draws together a number of activities aimed at supporting, recruiting and organising young workers.

STUC General Secretary, Grahame Smith, said “Through ‘The Future is Now’ campaign we will work with unions to ensure that young people in Scotland get the support they need to face the challenges in employment caused by the recession .”

For further information contact: Terry Anderson STUC Union and Community Development Officer 0141 337 8100