How Unions Can Attract Youth

According to a story in today’s New York Times, young workers are facing the toughest job market in years. Youth are faced with an inflated real estate market, spiraling healthcare costs, and crippling student debt. Job security is at an all-time low and real wages have been stagnated for years. Young workers are facing a time of extreme economic transition. The current climate of economic insecurity could provide an excellent opening for labor unions to attract young people if they adapt the correct approach.

First, unions should vigorously support efforts to increase the affordability of higher education. Over half of all students borrow money to finance their college career. Professor Cecilia Rouse estimates average debt of recent graduates to be roughly $19,000. Unions should push for debt forgiveness and other mechanisms to reduce this burden. This could also include an increase in Pell grants and other need based scholarships. Unions should make this campaign visible on every major college campus. Students need to become shown that the labor movement fights for average Americans—including them.

Another essential component is an increase in the minimum wage. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show that about half of all hourly-paid workers making $5.15 are under the age of 25. An increase in the minimum wage would put more money into the pockets of young workers than almost any other public policy proposal. Labor unions should make raising the minimum wage a major priority and work to engage young people in the movement.

Labor can also help young workers by supporting the construction of affordable housing. This is a win-win, because it can create union jobs and helps cash-strapped youth at the same time. Innovative organizations like New York City Apollo Project are experimenting with building environmentally friendly affordable housing using union labor. Fighting for affordable housing will further endear young workers to labor unions and create allies for future struggles.

Unions should also support any legislation that would increase the job security of young workers. Too many young people can be fired by their employers for no reason at all. Entry-level jobs are often designed to overwork employees until they burn out. Public efforts to help new workers will help make young people more sympathetic when unions decide to embark on new organizing campaigns.

Finally, unions should fight for healthcare to cover recent graduates and other young workers. Many young people lose their healthcare when they graduate and are one major injury away from bankruptcy. According to one study, entry-level jobs have increasingly been offered without healthcare coverage. By taking a leading role in the fight for affordable healthcare, unions will show young workers that collective action can reap benefits for the common good.

All of these issues are could be turned into public campaigns led by unions. We might not win every fight, but the labor movement will win some invaluable allies by simply suiting up for the struggle. In addition to winning broad support among young people, these campaigns could be excellent training groups for future organizers. Ultimately, the labor movement will only be revitalized if bread and butter economic issues become politicized. The current crisis facing young workers provides an excellent opportunity for labor movement, if they’re smart enough to capitalize on it.