South Lanarkshire joint event brings new young members

By Jane Aitchison, Communications & Campaigns Committee

A Young Worker's Event in South Lanarkshire this March was an all out success, recruiting 18 young members into the local UNISON branch, and also helping to encourage existing members to take a more active role in the union's activities.

South Lanarkshire UNISON took the lead in organising this event along with South Lanarkshire Council and the partner unions. The Council's involvement was crucial to the event, identifying and inviting young workers who were not a member of any trade union.

Tracey Carruthers, Young Members Officer, said "We were really pleased with the turnout for the event. The free lunch and the chance to win a Wii probably helped, but I think we managed to get the balance right with a range of stalls, all offering advice to young people wanting to take control of their lives.

"There were stalls from the various trade unions, the Council's Money Matters Advice Service (MMAS), Strathclyde Pension Fund, Scotwest Credit Union, NHS Health Promotions and a Sexual Health Awareness stall."

"It was great to speak to existing members and to get so many new young members.

"I'm not saying the rest of the branch are old fogeys, but none of us are getting any younger, so we really do need to keep recruiting young people and to make them feel a part of the union. We will certainly be organising similar events in the future."

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