Over ninety apprentices from different TAFEs in New South Wales have joined the AMWU in three weeks as part of an AMWU pilot program targeting apprentices.

The NSW Growth Unit and Skilled Trades Committee attended nine TAFE campuses and spoke to over 700 apprentices about the importance of being in the union.

NSW organiser Daniel Kyriacou said the TAFE visits were a great opportunity not only to inform young workers about the union, but also to get feedback on the pressing issues for apprentices.

“Low wages was a major issue that came up at every single campus. Apprentices were saying that they had friends on the dole earning more money than they did.”

Other issues raised were continuity of employment once the apprenticeship has ended and job security.

“Apprentices are wary of being used as cheap labour and they are worried about the global financial crisis and the impact this will have on their training and jobs.”

Mr Kyriacou said the AMWU would look to the students who signed up to help sign up others into the union.

“I am confident that more will join in the next few weeks, but there’s a real opportunity to spread the union message among more apprentices through their mates at work.”

The AMWU will review the program and look at ways of improving it before rolling it at more campuses next year.

The TAFEs visited included Mount Druitt, Granville, Ultimo, Padstow, Wetherill Park, Miller, St George, Gymea and Campbelltown.