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Get active

Is your boss a jerk?

Do you feel unappreciated?

Are you wondering if there's more to life
than just work, work, work?

There is… with the union!

Instead of sitting back and griping,
get involved. Make connections. Take charge.


Here's how:

If you're already in a union, start linking up with other young workers.

If you're a BCGEU member, contact your union office and tell them you want to meet other young worker activists.

Take part in BCGEU campaigns in your community to protect the environment, save jobs, increase international solidarity, and end child abuse.


Young worker program

The BCGEU launched its young worker program in 1999 in an effort to build bridges with young workers to keep the union a dynamic, youthful and responsive organization. The young worker program recognizes the importance of identifying and supporting young activists who will become the new leaders of our union and the labour movement.

The young worker program came out of recommendations of the union's first-ever youth conference, and feedback from other young activists in the union. Conference participants sent a clear message to the union to include them in union activities and reach out to youth in the union and in the community.

The young worker program focuses on identifying, educating and mentoring young members, and involving them at the community level. It also endeavours to create a space where young people can self-organize, identify their issues and interests, and develop proposals to involve other young BCGEU members and community activists.

BCGEU cross-component committees are asked to encourage and involve young members. Young worker activists are challenged to make links with students and student organizations, and build ties with other young community activists.


Youth task force

A youth task force was set up at the direction of the 2002 BCGEU convention. The task force made recommendations to the union's Provincial Executive on how to involve more young workers in the union at the local level, and at the cross-component committees in areas across the province; what education and training opportunities are needed; and how to ensure the union has clear goals for a young workers action plan.