Solidarity WORKS! ushered in its newest class of young participants on August 31st in Calgary.

This year’s AFL/CLC youth action project is the first of its kind in Alberta. Following Solidarity Works’ highly successful debut last year in Ontario, the Canadian Labour Congress targeted Alberta as a province that needed to educate youth about the labour movement and to train them to become effective activists.

The project is the brainchild of the CLC’s National Representative on Youth Issues, Nrinder Nindy Kaur Nann. It is hoped that one day, this program will be in each and every province. Each year, a new province will be targeted, with the hopes that the provincial federations of labour will continue to fund and run the three-week training and placement projects.

Applicants were asked to submit responses to a wide array of questions, ranging from those specifically pertaining to their thoughts on the labour movement, to their ideas and opinions on social justice issues. The only requirements were that those applying be 26 years of age and under, that they be available in Calgary for the run of the program and that they be interested in learning more about the labour movement and activism.

This year’s Calgary class of Solidarity WORKS! is comprised of 15 youths, aged 18 to 26. The experience of those participating is diverse, with some participants being seasoned community activists, young union members, as well as those with little or no experience in unions, the labour movement or community activism.

The first week of the program was an intensive in-class training that covered a wide range of topics that included labour history, labour law (codes, acts and regulations), organizing, racism and communication, just to name a few.

The class engaged in critical analysis of the labour movement often times, noting their perceptions of unions. One participant noted that she had often thought "unions made it so incompetent people could never be fired."

Much of the first week was spent challenging the many misconceptions youth have about the labour movement, unions and work. In challenging these things, this group of young activists were able to make inroads and brainstorm ideas on how youth can play a role in their workplaces.

"The greatest thing I can do in this course is challenge the things that are said. That’s how I learn. We need to challenge the language we use, the way we organize, the way we think," said one participant.

One unionized participant said, "it took me two years to be able to finally get involved in my union. At the last convention I was able to get enough people together to help me get onto our executive council. The stuff I am learning here will allow me to change things, to make things better for my fellow workers."

The first week of in-class training also allowed for an open exchange of personal experiences. One participant shared, "I worked at Earls for a year and a half, and I had never even met Earl. Somehow Earl considered me his ‘business partner’ yet I was only getting paid $7 an hour. What is that all about?"

The week also included two panel sessions, one comprised of unionized youth and one of community activists. Participants learned how organizing workplaces such as Starbucks and McDonalds is accomplished as well as what it is like to be involved in an 8-month strike against the Calgary Herald.

For the last two weeks, participants have been using the skills learned in the first week’s training, along with their previous organizing and activism experience, in placements in union offices and community organizations. AUPE, BCTGM, UFCW and the CDLC have all taken participants to head up projects, research and community outreach. The Arusha Center, Parkland Institute, the New Democrats, the Women of Colour Collective, Calgary World March of Women and Take Back the Night Calgary have also welcomed participants in placements.

"It is my hope that many of these participants will continue to be active in these placements, in their unions and in the community after the conclusion of Solidarity WORKS!" says Nrinder Nann.

The last two days will see the participants report back their placement experiences — sharing with their peers any insights, challenges and successes. Further training in these last two days will also be conducted and will look at developing media skills, public speaking, and ways activists can deal with authorities.

So far, it seems like this year’s Alberta class’ motto of "YOUNG, ORGANIZED, AND I KNOW MY RIGHTS, PUNK!" is well on it’s way of becoming a reality.

Who knows, you just might be fortunate enough to have a member of this year’s Solidarity WORKS! crew in your local, on your picket line, heading your organizing committee, holding a banner, or educating your son or daughter about their rights as young workers one day … in the not-too-distant future.