Survey on trade union actions for migrants and issues facing staff dealing

with migrantsETUI –EPSU

SeminarReport by Labour Research Department

• Results of survey– Recruitment & organisation of migrant workers– Services for migrant workers– Publications & campaigns on situation of migrant workers– Union statutes & policy– Collective bargaining– Dealing with migrants as part of work

• Comparison with ETUC survey 2003• Points for discussion

Key issues

32 responses from 21 countries all in EEA

• Austria• Belgium• Cyprus• Czech Republic• Denmark (2)• Estonia • Finland (3)• France (2)• Germany • Greece• Ireland

• Italy (2)• Latvia• Lithuania• Netherlands • Norway (3)• Poland• Slovakia• Spain• Sweden (3)• UK (3)

• Differences in coverage of unions – All public or some private (eg Ver.di or FSC CCOO)– In public sector – primarily central or not (eg NTL)

• Differences in national rules on public servants– Must they be EEA citizens (eg Italy, France)

• Differences in roles of the unions responding– Role of confederation (eg CISL)– Role of local structures (eg CGT-UGFF)

Issues making comparison difficult

15 unions take specific action to recruit migrant workers

• Austria– GDG

• Finland– JHL, Pardia, TEHY

• Germany– Ver.di

• Ireland– IMPACT

• Italy– CGIL-FP, CISL -FP

• Netherlands– ABVAKABO

• Norway– NTL

• Spain– FSC CCOO

• Sweden– Kommunal

• UK– GMB, RCN, UNISON

16 unions do not take specific action to recruit migrant workers

• Belgium– ACOD-AMiO

• Cyprus– PASYDY

• Denmark– DJOEF, OAO

• Estonia– Rotal

• France– CGT-UGFF

• Greece– ADEDY POE-OTA

• Latvia– LVSADA

• Lithuania– LVDPS

• Norway– FO, YS

• Poland– FZZPGKiT

• Slovakia– SOZZASS

• Sweden– SEKO, SKTF

• Printed material in different languages 12• Been at migrant communities’ events 10• Advice materials specific to migrant workers 9• Website material in different languages 8• Offices specifically for migrant workers 6• New organisers from migrant communities5• Telephone helplines in different languages0

How have they recruited

• Encourage them to be active at local level 10• Encourage other members to ask them to be active 10• Special committees/ conferences for migrant workers 6• Separate local structures for migrant workers 5

14 have taken specific action to encourage involvement of migrants

• 15 unions provide advice linked to the specific position of migrant workers and Pardia plans to

• 7 of these provide them only to members and 4 to all who ask (no answer from others)

• 8 provide advice, whether or not migrant is has legal right to be in country– GMB “no worker is illegal and every member has the right to

representation and advice”

Provision of advice services for migrant workers

• Discrimination at work 12• On nationality/immigration issues 8• On social issues – housing, health 6• Unions also emphasise that migrant workers

benefit from their normal advice on work-related issues

Legal advice services provided

• Provide any training 8– Training to be union representative 6 – Language training 5– Training on employment issues 5– Training on nationality/discrimination 4– Occupational training 2

Provision of training specifically for members who are migrants

• Published any material 15• How published

– Via the internet 11– In special publications 9– In leaflets and posters 9– In regular publications 7

Publication on issues linked to migrant workers 1

• Material aimed at– Union members 14– Union activists 11– Migrant workers in union 10– Workers 9– Migrant workers not in union 8– Policy makers 7– Those advising migrant workers 6– General public 5– Employers 5– Women 2

Publication on issues linked to migrant workers 2

• Issues covered– Legal rights on discrimination at work 11– General trade union rights for migrants 10– Union policies on migration 9– Union policies on discrimination 8– Anti-racist material 7– Legal rights on nationality &migration 5– Special concerns of women 4

Publication on issues linked to migrant workers 2

• 13 unions have produced material in other languages– All producing in other languages have something in

English– GMB seems to have produced in most languages -26

(UNISON 17, Ver.di & Kommunal 14, CGIL-FP at least 10, THEY planning 8)

– UNISON has regular newsletter in Polish and Filipino

Material in non-national languages

• Unions running campaigns 10– Against discrimination at work 7– Against racist groups 7– Against low pay and for living wage 7– On less restrictive asylum/migration laws 5– For trade union rights for migrant workers 3– On individual immigration/asylum cases 3– Of particular concern to women 2– Plus FP-CGIL campaign against the requirement that public

sector workers denounce undocumented migrants

Campaigns on issues linked to migrant workers – which issues

• Meetings 10• Circulating material within union 8• Work with press 8• Working with NGOs 8• Surveys 4• Demonstrations 4• Advertisements (print) 3• Advertisements (TV & radio) 3

Campaigns on issues linked to migrant workers – which methods

• 8 unions provided this– Finland – Pardia – Germany – Ver.di– Italy – FP-CGIL & CISL-FP (through confederation)– Lithuania – LVDPS – Spain – FSC CCOO– UK – GMB & UNISON

Training for broader membership

• 12 unions had this (others had more general commitment to equality)– Austria – GdG-KMSfB (opposition to fascism)– Belgium – ACOD AMiO (no-one elected can have extreme ideas)– Germany – Ver.di (opposition to fascist, militarist and racist influences)– Italy – FP-CGIL (membership ban for anyone with discriminatory ideas – including

based on race)– Netherlands – ABVAKABO (membership not open to members of extreme right

organisations)– Norway – FO (members can be suspended if member of fascist or racist

organisation), NTL (congress resolution)– Sweden – SEKO (congress programme against racism), SKTF (in human rights

policy)– UK – GMB (cannot be member of BNP), RCN, UNISON (disciplinary action taken

against members discriminating – including on grounds of race)

Rules or statutes combating racism

• Successfully used on issues of concern to migrants 11– General statements on equality 10– Action against harassment 9– Equal access to training & other benefits 8– Language training 5– Recognition of foreign qualifications 4– Organising leave to allow migrants to go home 3– Action on recruitment 3– Taking account of religious practices

• Working time (prayers) 3• Food in canteen (religious requirements) 3• Uniform/dress (religious requirements) 2

– Improving availability & quality of public service 2

Collective bargaining

• 9 unions have paid staff responsible for issue– Finland – Pardia, TEHY (1-2)– Germany – Ver.di (1)– Italy – FP-CGIL– Netherlands – ABVAKABO (2)– Norway – NTL (1 part-time)– Spain – FSC CCOO (2)– UK – GMB (1 national & 8-7 regional), RCN (3), UNISON (3 – two-year project on

migration)• 2 unions have staff with specific responsibilities for this among other duties

– Austria – GdG-KMSfB (5 as required)– Sweden – Kommunal (sveral but no one individual)

Paid staff

• Providing legal & advice services for migrants 8• Developing policies on discrimination against migrant workers 8• Campaigning on discrimination against migrant workers 8 • Recruiting migrant workers 7• Developing policies on migration & conditions of entry 7• Developing training for migrant workers 5• Campaigning on migration & conditions of entry 4• Working with groups from migrant communities 3

Tasks of paid staff

• 22 unions have members dealing with migrants– Some in detention centres, reception centres etc– Others providing social services used by migrants

• 18 unions say they are problems– Lack of language support– Complexity of regulations– Constantly changing regulation

Members dealing with migrants

• Increases in numbers employed• Language supplements for members• Courses for members in dealing with aggression• Lobbying/campaigning for changes in law• Provision for more official material in other

languages• Pushing for more language courses for migrants

Union responses to these problems

• Problems raised– Heavy workload – too much overtime & unsocial hours – Facing aggression and threats– Stress– Political oversight

• Union responses– Push for more staff & take control of workload– Improved training for staff (including courses on regulations)– Local plan of action involving work environment specialists

Particular problems for staff

• 6 unions reported that members faced ethical dilemmas– Refusal to aid expulsions or put children in centres

• Union responses– Ad hoc support– Supporting individual migrants– More general political campaigns– An ethical policy document for members

Ethical dilemmas

• Much wider response from CEE states• Around same proportion – half – have taken specific action to recruit migrant

workers• Fewer have provided advice services to migrants – three-quarters of

confederations but half unions– In both cases discrimination at work is main issue

• Fewer have published material on the issue – 90% of confederations but less than half unions

– In both cases discrimination at work is main issue• Fewer can point to collective bargaining successes linked to migrant worker

but gap not as great – 45% of confederations and 35% of unions– In both cases main result was general statement on equality

Comparison with 2003 ETUC study

• Can we get in the last few responses– Portugal, Romania (no national replies) – From countries with some responses but some

missing• Can we get fuller responses

– France

Points for future – report

• Is it inevitable that there is such a big divide between new member states and older member states?

• What can unions learn from experiences in other countries?– Recruitment and organisation– Services– Publications and campaigns– Union statutes and policy– Collective bargaining– Dealing with migrants as part of work

Points for future discussion

Thanks for your attention & your help• ABVAKABO• ACOD-AMiO• ADEDY(POE-OTA)• CFDT-Interco• CGIL-FP• CGT-UGFF• CISL-FP• DJOEF• FO• FSC CCOO• FZZPGKiT• GdG-KMSfB• GMB• IMPACT• JHL• Kommunal

• LVDPS• LVSADA• NTL• OAO• OSZ CMKOS• Pardia• PASYDY• RCN• Rotal• SEKO• SKTF• SOZZASS• TEHY• UNISON• Ver.di• YS