Press Release

Grant migrant workers rights

4 May 2009

Status mess is causing exploitation – time to do as the US and grant migrant workers rights, says Unite.

With over 800,000 people denied status in this country, the UK risks entrenching a three-tier labour force and with it the widespread exploitation of migrant workers, which will itself drag down the terms and conditions of workers across the country.

That was the warning issued by Unite the union, the UK's biggest union, ahead of the May Day Migrants' March through central London today (Monday 4th May).

Some 20,000 people, migrants and UK-born alike, are expected to crowd into Trafalgar Square following a march through the capital in the continued fight for rights for the hundreds of thousands of 'undocumented' workers in the UK.

Speaking ahead of the rally organised by Strangers into Citizens, which he will address, Unite deputy general secretary, Jack Dromey said: "Undocumented workers inhabit a twilight world of fear and anxiety, constantly looking over their shoulder, believing they have to except shoddy treatment from their employers. Their abuse is a stain on our society.

"Three of our own union members were arrested when they were tricked into a 'training' day. When they got there, the authorities were waiting to remove them. One worker was in a desperate state because he had to collect his kids from school. They were then deported because they were undocumented but they had been here for years, worked hard and contributed much more to this country than they took out.

"Unless the UK acts to address the 'status mess' that has accumulated over the decades, then exploitation among migrant workers will become entrenched – and it will drag down the conditions of workers across the country."

According to Unite, promises by the immigration authorities to hunt down and deport 800,000 people are not just immoral, but are also impractical.

"Deportation would take a generation and cost a fortune, so why pursue this approach?" continued Jack Dromey, "Barack Obama has grasped the nettle in America. Undocumented millions might now become full citizens of his brave new world, paying taxes to rebuild a continent. Surely this is an approach we could benefit from in this country too?"