On February 22, 2025, youth from IUF-affiliated unions; National Union of Hospitality, Catering and Tourism Industries Employees [NUHCTIE] and National Union of Workers [NUW] in Fiji and Vanuatu National Workers Union and Workers Union of Solomon Islands participated in the IUF Asia/Pacific Youth Meeting in Nadi focused on strengthening youth involvement in unions across the Pacific.
The meeting brought together young workers from the food processing, beverage manufacturing, and hotel and tourism sectors to share strategies for organizing youth in unions and the challenges they face.
The focus of the meeting was understanding the social psychology of youth in unions—why youth join the union, what keeps them engaged, what makes them decide to stay in the union and how to increase their participation.
Members discussing what kind of youth space does youth need, how to build it and how to increase and maintain it.
Young workers highlighted the role of compassion and solidarity in their decision to become and remain union members. They received support and solidarity from the union when they joined, including protection from unfair termination, access to maternity leave after previously being denied, and protection from exploitation under traineeship programs.
Many expressed a strong commitment to encouraging more youth to join and benefit from union support.
Young workers then discussed creating a youth space within the union—a space that has Aman (an Indonesian term meaning free from danger and feeling at ease, without fear or worry) and Nyaman (a state of feeling safe and less stressed). When youth create their own space as they need, they will have a place where they can be comfortable—a place that has Aman and Nyaman, a space made by youth, for youth.
Members discussing building effective youth space.
The focus was also on the skills that youth would need for secure employment in just transitions; changes in the workplace due to automation, new technologies and digitalization and due to green policies of the companies and governments.
The meeting also launched a petition to stop racism and bullying in the workplace in the lead up to the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21. This day commemorates the Sharpville massacre under apartheid in South Africa in 1960.
Indigenous and First Nation workers, workers of colour and those from diverse racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds frequently encounter exclusion, abuse and undue scrutiny. This creates an environment of discrimination, fear, and psychological harm, severely undermining the dignity, mental health, and well-being of workers.
Members signing the petition and sharing the experience of facing racism and bullying at the workplace.
Workers of colour experience racism in the workplace not only as barriers to better jobs and promotions, but through various kinds of bullying designed to make them feel unwelcome and ashamed. Common forms of workplace racism include ridicule, being spoken to or treated like children and verbal abuse, resulting in detrimental impact on self-esteem, cultural identity, workplace burn-out and emotional distress.
The petition calls for the United Nation through its agencies to initiate urgent and comprehensive action by governments and employers required to prevent racism and bullying in the workplace essential to ensuring a safe workplace for workers and to address one of the fundamental causes of depression and mental health issues in the workplace.
Social psychology of youth in union – what makes them join and decide to stay in the union.
Members discussing building effective youth space.