(WASHINGTON) - Young Unionists who are slated to be the Next Up to lead the Labor Movement will gather and meet in Washington for the First-Ever National Young Workers Summit that will be hosted by the National AFL-CIO from June 10th to the 13th. 

The Next Up Summit is the culmination of a five-city listening tour and kicks off of a long-term outreach program aimed at Working People under the age of 35.  Young workers from across the United States are urged to visit www.aflcio.org/nextup to register by May 21st.

Young Labor Leaders and activists will have an opportunity to share their ideas and experiences with each other and learn how to engage other young working people in their communities, AFL-CIO officials said.  They'll also be meeting with AFL-CIO Leaders in order to voice their opinions and provide feedback on the role of young people in the Labor Movement.  Conversely, AFL-CIO leaders hope to create a two-way dialogue in order to listen to the concerns of young workers and make changes to strengthen and grow the Labor Movement.

The Young Workers Summit will also address those challenges and gather ideas to continue to make the Labor Movement more relevant to the next generation of workers, AFL-CIO officials said.

"We're all experiencing the economic crisis, but young workers have been hurt disproportionately," AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler said.  "Young people need the Union Movement and we need young workers to be engaged.  Participants at the Young Workers Summit are going to develop an action plan and identify more of what we need to do to make sure we're fully integrating and calling upon our young members."

This spring, Shuler met with young workers in five different cities and listened to what they had to say about the issues they face in the workplace and their Unions, including their often creative and passionate ideas about how to address those issues.  Those forums set the stage for the summit and the AFL-CIO's long term outreach to young workers.

Last year the AFL-CIO conducted a survey a young workers which found that only 31% of 18- to 35-year-olds make enough money to cover their bills and put some aside.  Almost a third are uninsured and one in three still lives at home with their parents. 

The Economic Policy Institute also released a study last month showing the challenges facing jobless young workers who lack a safety net and often don't qualify for unemployment benefits.

Editor's Note: To Register for the Young Unionist Summit, Visit www.aflcio.org/nextup