YIP Phase 2 session empowers young workers in Quebec

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Montreal – October 6, 2016 – The UFCW Canada Young Workers Internship Program (YIP) recently returned to Quebec, where UFCW Canada young worker activists gathered for Phase 2 of Canada's leading youth labour program.

Over the course of 10 days, nine energetic UFCW Canada members spent their time developing new skills and building solidarity. This was the first Phase 2 session to ever be held in Quebec, where participants are given the opportunity to work with their union in an expanded capacity.

Participants from UFCW Canada Local 500, Local 501 and Local 1991P engaged in various training activities where they learned about different facets of the labour movement, including taking a deeper look into labour communications and workplace organizing. A special session on political action focused on some of priorities young workers want to see their government take action on — based on a list which was devised earlier this year at the UFCW Canada Ignite Youth Conference.

Throughout the duration of the program, participants received in-depth training on political lobbying which culminated in a trip to Ottawa. At Parliament Hill, the group was able to sit down and meet NDP MPs Niki Ashton (NDP–Churchill–Keewatinook Aski) and Anne Minh-Thu Quach (NDP–Salaberry–Suroît), who are the NDP critics on Employment, Workforce, and Labour as well as Youth, respectively. During the meetings, the group discussed some of the issues that concern young workers today and also introduced some of the youth-led UFCW Canada initiatives such as the #TossTuition campaign, which calls for free access to college and university for all Canadians.

During the program's time in Ottawa, the group also joined with activists from the Agriculture Workers Alliance at a rally calling for better protections for migrant workers across Canada.

The UFCW Canada Young Workers Internship Program (YIP) Phase 2 gives participants the experience of political campaign building and political lobbying. While Phase 1 of the program is focused primarily on in-class training and education, Phase 2 gives more hands-on experience throughout different facets of the labour movement. To find out more about upcoming and future YIP sessions, click here.