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EUROPEAN REVIEW

ISSUE 27 - Page 3

Unions the answer for migrant workers say TUC

REACTION IN THE UK LABOUR movement to recent publicity concerning migrant workers has stressed the rôle of trade unions in protecting vulnerable people from exploitation by rogue employers and legalising their work status. The deaths of the Chinese cockle-pickers in Morecambe Bay was only the most serious of a long list of tragic incidents caused by illegal and unregulated employment of foreign nationals. In January the Guardian reported the death of a Chinese labourer after stamping the maker's name on Samsung microwave ovens for 24 hours on end. In July last year a minibus carrying eight immigrant casual farm workers collided with a high-speed commuter train on an unstaffed level crossing in Worcestershire resulting in 3 deaths and 6 serious injuries. Some weeks later an inquest was held into the deaths of two Polish labourers on a Twyford fruit farm. The men were killed when they became entangled with a rope-reeling machine capable of spinning at up to 20mph. The farm manager admitted one of the dead men had to ask another Polish worker to translate his instructions.

Polish migrants were among numerous eastern European workers taking up places in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers scheme (SAWS) and Sector Based schemes (SBS) which supply labour to the meat and food processing, and hospitality industries. From May, however, workers from countries such as Poland and Lithuania, which have joined the EU, no longer need to participate in these temporary entry programmes. It is likely that countries still outside the EU, such as Ukraine, will take up the slack. A report written for the TUC by a Ukrainian student* has already highlighted abuses in the schemes. Charges ranging from about £600 to £1,000 for visas were common and when

Woodley, T.

Sheridan, J.

they expired the migrants were simply told to carry on with their wages halved and to flee into the woods if the police arrived. Living conditions were generally poor and piece rates could be quickly adjusted downwards if employers thought the work was being done too quickly. Unions feel that this exploitation can be reduced both by government action and trade union organisation itself. A Private Members' Bill which recently became law will regulate the 'gangmasters' who employ groups of temporary workers in agriculture. This sector was deregulated in the 1990s and this has been blamed for accidents and disasters such as that in Morecambe Bay.

T & G General secretary Tony Woodley and Jim Sheridan MP who guided the 'Gangmasters Bill'

The bill was backed by the Transport and General Workers Union whose General Secretary Tony Woodley said voluntary measures had failed and added: 'Abuses of health and safety, exploitation through low pay and criminal acts of intimidation are being reported on a regular basis. We believe the time has come for legislation which will introduce licensing and enforceable regulation'.

Trade union membership was recommended by TGWU national secretary Peter Allenson who said: 'The TGWU has a fine record in working with and for many groups who need protection against exploitation in the workplace ... We have worked hard with Portuguese workers, for example, in the food industry ... Migrant workers can and should look to trade unions'. He also cited the Charter of Rights for Migrant Workers in Agriculture, which had recently been agreed by global agriculture union group IUF. According to TUC general secretary Brendan Barber 'The challenge for unions is to find ways of recruiting migrant workers, offering them support and guidance so they become less exploitable and more aware of their rights'.

*'GONE WEST: UKRAINIANS AT WORK IN THE UK

by Stepan Shakhno is available, price £5, from TUC publications at :

http://www.tuc.org.uk/publications/

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Polish migrants were among numerous eastern European workers taking up places in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers scheme (SAWS) and Sector Based schemes (SBS) which supply labour to the meat and food processing, and hospitality industries. From May, however, workers from countries such as Poland and Lithuania, which have joined the EU, no longer need to participate in these temporary entry programmes. It is likely that countries still outside the EU, such as Ukraine, will take up the slack. A report written for the TUC by a Ukrainian student* has already highlighted abuses in the schemes. Charges ranging from about £600 to £1,000 for visas were common and when			they expired the migrants were simply told to carry on with their wages halved and to flee into the woods if the police arrived. Living conditions were generally poor and piece rates could be quickly adjusted downwards if employers thought the work was being done too quickly. Unions feel that this exploitation can be reduced both by government action and trade union organisation itself. A Private Members' Bill which recently became law will regulate the 'gangmasters' who employ groups of temporary workers in agriculture. This sector was deregulated in the 1990s and this has been blamed for accidents and disasters such as that in Morecambe Bay.
	T & G General secretary Tony Woodley and Jim Sheridan MP who guided the 'Gangmasters Bill'