Children should learn about trade unions and workers’ rights in schools, Jeremy Corbyn is to say.

Youngsters should be “fully equipped” to develop and exercise their rights in the workplace, according to the Labour leader.

In a speech to the Durham Miners Gala on Saturday, he will suggest that trade unions have been “marginalised, vilified and undermined”, and that children should know about union principles such as collective action and solidarity.

He will say: “Children should not only learn about trade unions and their rights at work, but should be fully equipped to exercise and develop those rights.

“Schools need to teach these values and together we can, and will, transform society so it works for the many, not the few.”

Mr Corbyn will also say: “We know that power in society, and in our workplaces, has become concentrated in the hands of a few, at the expense of everybody else.

“But history shows those at the top have never conceded anything, without it being demanded from people below – things we all enjoy but now take for granted, like weekends and paid holidays.

 

“For too long, trade unions have been marginalised, vilified and undermined, and workers have lost out, while more and more money lines the pockets of shareholders.

“The next Labour government will restore trade union rights, but we need to also make sure young people learn about the principles of solidarity and collective action.”

Labour said that children can be taught about trade unions as part of citizenship lessons, but claimed this is done in a limited way, with classes aimed at older pupils and focusing on facts rather than the relevance to real life.

A Conservative spokesman said: “This is an unnecessary gimmick to hide the fact that Jeremy Corbyn’s plans would do nothing to help working people.

“Jeremy Corbyn claims to want to stand up for workers – but he wouldn’t be able to deliver on this promise because he doesn’t know how to handle the economy.

“And that would mean higher prices and lower wages, meaning workers would have less money to take home to their families.”