Lucy Burton reports

Armed with membership forms, GMB mouse mats and pens and loads of other info members of the GMB Sussex branch took up our positions at the Sussex uni Fresher's Fair. Our mission was to raise awareness of trade unions in general and recruit students to the GMB in particular.

Our banner attracted a lot of attention (possibly because it was the only one which wasn't a DIY job!) but most students we talked to seemed to be unaware of what a trade union was. I usually explained that in the same way as a students' union looks after your interests as students, a trade union looks after your interests as workers. There was a lot of interest, not least because it only costs 43p per month to be a student member of the GMB!

The Fresher's Fair is aimed at new university students, and allows them to find out what clubs and societies they can take part in, during their time at university (anything from circus skills to theatre groups to political organisations). As nearly everyone we talked to was a new student many of them were unsure whether they would need to work during their time at university and so were not sure whether they should join a trade union.

For many young people today, unions are not a big part of life - there have been fewer high-profile strikes and unions are often portrayed in the media as being old-fashioned and in the way - and I think this is why so many people were not sure what a trade union was or how it could help them.

University students are all potential members of trade unions - with the introduction of tuition fees most have to do some part-time work whilst studying. The types of jobs they usually get are low-paid and with poor conditions - bar work, working in restaurants and call centre work are a few examples. Many students don't realise what rights they do have, let alone that being in a union can help you to win more! We must help to get this message out to all young people to help make our union stronger.