Unions reach out to Polish workers

The GMB general union has opened its first branch dedicated to the needs of migrant workers.

The branch, in Southampton, was launched earlier this month. With a focus on Polish workers, it offers job training, language training and work placements. At present, members of the branch come mainly from the security industry, but its coverage will be extended in the future; the Southampton area has an estimated 30,000 Polish workers.

"We have found that migrant workers need different things from native workers, so this dedicated branch will provide that service," said GMB organiser Alan Frazer. He added that the scheme will be extended "across the South East and nationally".

Also this month, the GMB called on airport check-in and baggage-handling firm Swissport to employ its migrant workers - most of whom are from Poland - directly rather than through agencies which take a large cut of their earnings.

The union is seeking advice on whether the workers' enforced self-employed status - which means that they do not receive benefits such as sick pay and holiday pay - can be challenged, given that they lose their agency-provided accommodation if they stop working for Swissport.

GMB Organiser Gary Pearce urged Swissport to "openly condemn the treatment of these migrant workers both at work and in their accommodation, and take them into direct employment".

Meanwhile, the T&G general union has held its first Polish-language meeting in Glasgow, with almost 200 attendees raising and discussing issues that face them at and outside work. Most of the 33,000 migrant workers registered in Scotland are Polish, and many have joined unions.