On Sunday 26 July Workers’Liberty organised a showing in a church hall near the Vestas occupation of the film “With Babies and Banners”. It tells the story of the 1936 workers’ occupation at the General Motors factories in Flint, USA, which was decisive in winning union recognition in the US car industry.
As the discussion developed after the film among the 20-odd people present, it turned to the idea of organising a campaign for jobs for young people on the Isle of Wight.
Local young people who had come to the meeting told us of their anger at the lack of opportunities for them, unless they go to university or otherwise move to the mainland. All they get is little bits of jobs, in fast-food shops, in the tourist trade, and so on. They have no chance of a job in which they can develop skills and make a contribution to be proud of.
The lack of opportunities is not new. The will among young people to campaign against it is.
Discussions are now under way about getting a campaign set up, with (we hope) the endorsement of the Vestas workers and the help of local unions.
