In line with its Resolution #15 “On Organising Young Creative Workers”, unanimously adopted at its 22nd Congress, FIA has recently established the FIA Youth group. The aims of the newly constituted group are: to give a voice to young workers within the democratic processes of FIA; to encourage the representation and organisation of young workers at the national level and to have the group advise the FIA Executive on issues facing the young members of the federation.
The group now involves 18 participants from 13 unions across 12 countries, stretching from New Zealand to South Africa, Norway to Mexico.
The group is still in a preliminary phase of its work and has met twice online to date. The first meeting was held in March and was attended by approximately half of the group. It allowed the participants to introduce themselves and share their union’s policies regarding organising of young performers.
The second meeting followed in May and focused on the work of FIA as a federation. FIA President Gabrielle Carteris joined the meeting and extended a very warm welcome to the participants. Recalling the commitment of her home union SAG AFTRA to young performers, she stressed the value and need of youth involvement in our federation.
The meeting was also attended by the secretariat, who gave participants an overview of FIA’s structure, mission and priorities, so that the young members, participating for the first time in FIA, have a clearer view of the role and aims of the federation. This was followed by presentations from some of the participants on the various youth engagement projects and strategies in place in their home unions. Their national contexts vary greatly, but the challenge of connecting with young professionals and the need to raise awareness on the role of unions, were common themes.
These meetings were just the beginning for what promises to be a dynamic group of FIA young members. The aim now is for the group to have the opportunity to meet in person to strengthen their connections and lay the foundation for a strong committee that will help FIA to advance the involvement of young performers in the union movement.
