YOUNG private-sector workers are “ready and willing to unionise but often lack the knowledge of how to organise,” GMB members were told today.

William Gibson, who played a central role in the general union’s successful campaign to unionise Glasgow’s flagship Apple store, stressed there was “much work to be done with young workers in non-unionised sectors but there’s certainly no lack of desire.”

This February’s historic deal with the US tech giant — the first for Apple in Britain — means staff in the Scottish city’s Buchanan Street store can now elect workplace representatives to bargain on their behalf.

Addressing GMB Congress 2023 in Brighton, Mr Gibson hailed the hard work of his colleagues and the group’s “modern approach to unionising, utilising digital platforms such as Discord for sharing resources and information.

“Having a mixture of in-person and Zoom information sessions and utilising social events also fostered community and solidarity.”

He noted that “young private-sector workers in retail and hospitality are not averse to unionising — they are ready and willing but lack the knowledge of how to organise and the significance of workplace recognition.

“Driven by a desire for justice, many of us are drawn to companies and organisations which appear to align with social justice movements.

“In workplaces like that, the protection of workers’ rights through trade unions would be the logical next step, yet opposition to unionisation efforts appears to be the default response.

“There’s much work to be done with young workers, but there’s certainly no lack of desire.”

Mr Gibson warned that younger trade unionists are often patronised across the labour movement and he urged members to “renew our commitment to fight discrimination, harassment and inequality and be mindful of all those who suffer under capitalism.”