Tread softly because you tread on my dreams
Ian Kirk-Smith introduces the Fox Report
The Quaker testimonies are rooted in a particular understanding of faith: that to live a true life it must be done in a spirit of love, truth and peace, answering that of God in everyone. They should test us and challenge us. They do.
A leaflet produced by the Testimonies Committee of Quaker Peace and Social Witness states: ‘As the testimonies come from “leadings of the spirit”, this may mean taking a stand against common social practices.’
The challenge is, sometimes, to push against the current. This has been at the heart of Friends’ witness for many generations: ‘Quakers recognise that their testimonies go against many of the current strands of economic, social and political change. This may, therefore, mean dissenting from fundamental aspects of the contemporary social order.’
This issue contains the second ‘Fox Report’, compiled and edited by Judy Kirby, which focuses on a subject that is increasingly becoming a common practice: the exploitation of young people in the labour market.
There is a clear challenge to the Testimony to Equality and the Testimony to Integrity.
Youth unemployment has soared. Graduate unemployment reached twenty per cent in the third quarter of 2010. The desire for employment has forced many young graduates, in search of experience, to accept unpaid positions.
David Hencke presents solid evidence of the recent increase in internships in all sectors of employment and highlights, for especial concern, the areas of government and charities. It has been widely accepted, as Kayte Lawton explains, that publishing, journalism, the arts and fashion have, for many years, been full of young people working in an unpaid capacity in an effort to ‘break in’ to a career.
As Tanya de Grunwald reveals, internships no longer lead to entry level jobs – they are sometimes actually replacing them. When one intern finishes their placement another is simply ‘hired’ to replace them. This may be legal – but is it morally right?
It is also a complex issue. As Sara Feilden points out, it would wrong to ‘throw the baby out with the bath water’ and, while action needs to be taken, it should be carefully considered. Good people and good organisations, who have made, and continue to make, wonderful contributions to society, are drawn in. David Hencke cites some examples. It is often hard to ‘stand against common social practice.’
The tide is moving strongly. Momentum builds up. It is hard to resist a tide in full force. Now the government has announced that jobless young people who are struggling to find work should be steered towards unpaid training or volunteering.
The Prince’s Trust and other charities look set to have stalls in Jobcentre Plus offices. Youth unemployment rose by 32,000 in November to 951,000 – the highest figure since records began. These new initiatives have both advantages and disadvantages. There are undoubtedly benefits in giving young people, especially disadvantaged young people, an experience of work. The truth is, also, that these initiatives will also help ‘massage’ unemployment statistics and there is a risk that young people will simply be employed as cheap labour – before being put back on the dole: given hope only to have it taken away.
The issue, ultimately, is one of social justice and equal opportunity. Middle class and privileged young people have an advantage. Their families can often ‘subsidise’ the unpaid labour of their children. These young people can ‘afford’ to be exploited. The end result is a ‘common practice’ that not only exploits young people: it perpetuates inequality and reinforces the growing gulf in our society between rich and poor.
Young people are vulnerable. They also have dreams. These are very precious and should be treated with respect and tenderness. It is cruel to betray them.
As WB Yeats wrote:
‘Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.’
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