IBOA Youth
In recent years, the age profile of employees within the financial services sector has been changing with a significant increase in the proportion of younger staff. This trend has also been reflected within the Union with approximately 45% of IBOA members under the age of 35.
Recognising that the Union's traditional structures were more likely to be populated by members over the age of 35, IBOA's Biennial Delegate Conference in 2005 decided that it was necessary to go beyond general appeals for participation in Union activities by younger members by creating a specific structure to promote the Union among younger workers and, in turn, to highlight the concerns of younger members within the Union.
IBOA Youth Committee
The Union's Youth Committee was established in 2005 with the aims of:
- improving recruitment of young employees into the Union;
- making IBOA more relevant and attractive to younger employees; and
- improving participation of young members in the Union.
Since then the Youth Committee has developed an active work programme to achieve these aims.
There are fourteen seats on the Youth Committee – which are filled by election every two years shortly before the Union's Biennial Delegate Conference. Any Union member under the age of 35, duly proposed and seconded by fellow IBOA members, can stand for election to the Youth Committee.
As part of its initial programme of work, IBOA Youth campaigned within the Union to achieve a seat on the Executive Committee of IBOA. The Union's 2007 Biennial Delegate Conference confirmed that the Chair of the Youth Committee would be automatically co-opted onto the Executive of the Union. "It is vital," commented General Secretary, Larry Broderick, "that IBOA continues to emphasise the important role played by young people in this industry and in our Union and to reflect this in our structures. We need to give a real voice and power to young members."
The IBOA Youth Committee meets at least four times a year to develop and co-ordinate campaigning activities to advance its objectives. Between meetings the Committee maintains constant contact making use of the latest technology and increasing access to the internet.
