Unions reach out to migrant workers before they arrive

The GMB and T&G general unions are moving up a notch in their campaigns to inform and protect migrant workers, particularly those from Poland.

The GMB is deploying the help of the Polish Solidarnosc union to fight what it calls "the gross exploitation of Polish workers by unscrupulous employers".

Under the arrangement, Polish workers heading for Britain will be told of their UK employment rights before they leave for the UK, and will be invited to join the GMB to get help in enforcing their rights when they start work.

The two unions are producing communications material in Polish and English which will bear both of the unions' logos, and Solidarnosc will create an internet guide for Polish workers on UK employment rights.

The link-up follows the launch of a GMB branch in the Southampton area catering largely for Polish workers, especially in the security industry. The branch provides union representation, language training, job training and work placements.

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "Both GMB and Solidarnosc recognise the need to ensure that labour standards in the UK are not undermined and that migrant workers are not exploited as has happened all over the UK to date." He added that it was the start of "wider European co-operation to deal with exploitation".

Meanwhile T&G Scotland has also set up a branch in Glasgow for Polish workers and is now attempting to establish others around Scotland. A meeting for Polish workers will be held in Edinburgh later this month.