The government is robbing a million unemployed young people of their futures, UNISON told Labour’s conference in Manchester today.
David Marsden, a UNISON member who once spent 10 years as a school teacher, called for an end to the government’s “outrageous plans” that were having a “devastating impact” on education.
This includes the axing of the Education Maintenance Allowance, the 25% cut in funding for further education and skills by 2015 and the fact that those over 23 years of age wanting to do apprenticeships are being asked to pay full fees.
This, Mr Marsden said, meant that “people desperate to improve their life chances are being forced to pay to work.”
And he had a message for the government: “You wouldn’t do it to your own kids, Cameron and Clegg, and you’re not going to do it to ours.”