Scottish Greens to speak at STUC as they pledge to curb ‘exploitation’

The Scottish Greens are set to speak at a leading union event for the first time as they pledge to protect young people from “exploitation in the workplace”.

Co-leader Gillian Mackay is set to speak at the Scottish Trades Union Congress as she pledges to make sure every young person leaves school “empowered” before entering the workplace.

Ms Mackay said: “I am really proud to be the first Scottish Green leader to address the STUC. It is a huge honour for me and my party.

“Trade unions have played a crucial role in building a fairer and better society for workers and taking on rogue employers. They have won the rights that workers have today and consigned a lot of the worst practices to the past.

“Especially at a time like this, it is vital that workers know about the rights they have and feel confident in standing up for themselves.

“Young workers are among the most exploited, but too many young people are entering the workplace without understanding their rights. It leaves them exposed to exploitation, insecurity and unfair treatment.

“For a lot of young people, their first experience of work can be in low-paid or insecure jobs with bad employers assuming they can get away with treating them badly. Knowing your rights can make all the difference in preventing that from happening in the first place.

“The Scottish Greens want every young person to leave school informed, empowered and ready to challenge unfairness wherever they find it.”

The Scottish Greens have pledged to roll out the STUC’s Unions in Schools programme to every secondary and ASN school in Scotland.

The scheme, which began in 2004, sees union reps visiting secondary schools and working with classes and teachers.

It aims to ensure that young people understand fair pay, contracts, health and safety and discrimination before entering the workplace.

During the Greens time in the Scottish Government, the party trebled funding for the programme.

Ms Mackay continued: “The STUC have done invaluable work in reaching out to young people. I am proud that the Scottish Greens secured record funding for the Unions in Schools programme, and we are committed to ensuring that every school can benefit from it.

“On May 7, a vote for the Scottish Greens is a vote to level the playing field and make sure every young person knows their rights and is better protected from exploitation in the workplace.”