EQUALITIES
UPDATE
r acceptance
GMB fights fo
UNION FOR ALL
Migrant workers from Poland and
Portugal deserve representation.
Project
INTERPART
Organising Polish and Portuguese
workers in the East of England
G
CARLOS TRINIDADE
From Portugal’s CGTP.
Richard Owen, GMB organiser, said:
“I myself have significant numbers of Polish
members in the three Amazon sites for which
I have responsibility, and we’re putting on
membership steadily. I’m keen to develop
closer links with these members, and I’m
confident that this initiative will help to
develop our ability to organise and defend
them in exactly the same way in which we
defend and represent our other members.”
JOIN THE
PROJECT
ivist within
To get involved as an act rker
wo
nt
either of these migra
ail
communities, please em
.
rd
ha
ric
at
en
Ow
rd
ha
Ric
k
g.u
.or
owen@gmb
28 CANDID – GMB London
GMB25.Candid_28_29.indd 28
20/06/2016 15:38
Rex Features
and the fact that many are employed on
MB was recently on hand at a
temporary or short-term contracts. Often
big one-day conference to kick off
they are unaware that they have the right
Project Interpart. The project’s
to union representation.
aim is to help organise Polish and
Portuguese workers in the East of England.
The conference was set up by the TUC’s
HIGHLY SKILLED
South East Region, SERTUC, and received
financial assistance from the EU. A range of
There are many reasons behind migration
unions were there with GMB at the forefront.
from both countries, including oppression –
Speakers from ACAS, UNIONLINE, the
both countries suffered under dictatorships
Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Gang
– and the 2008 financial crisis triggered a
Masters’ Licensing Authority all talked about
large increase. A third of Portugal’s nurses left,
the experiences of migrant workers. It was
for example: 4,500 to the UK alone. Many
interesting to hear from
professionals have moved
Carlos Trindade of the
abroad from both
Portuguese union
countries. It’s worth noting
organisation CGTP, as well
that many migrant
as Bartlomiej Kubiaczyk,
workers are highly skilled
speaking on behalf of the
and educated, and often
Polish equivalent, OPZZ.
work in jobs for which
The day gave insight into
they’re over-qualified.
what it’s like for migrant
GMB is keen to reach
workers from these two
out to these workers.
communities, and some
They’re open to
of the facts were startling.
exploitation by
Around 25 per cent of Polish
unscrupulous employers,
workers in the UK belong to
and GMB can help
BARTLOMIEJ KUBIACZYK
a union, but in Poland it’s just
protect them while
Spoke on behalf of
11 per cent. Poles under 25
growing its membership
Polish union OPZZ.
are even more reluctant to
at the same time. SERTUC is
unionise, at just eight per cent.
setting up workshops for
That’s just one barrier to organising
Polish and Portuguese workers across East
migrant workers. There’s also language,
Anglia in the near future.