The Migrant Workers Support Unit
Who we are
The Migrant Workers Support Unit (MWSU) has been established to assess the needs of migrant workers who are members of the union. The MWSU is also there to ensure the union is able to represent and assist its increasingly diverse membership. The promotion, integration and inclusion of migrant workers into the union is central to its organising strategy.
The MWSU began in January
2007 and is partly funded by the Union Modernisation Fund. Omer
Ahmed manages the project and the Support Worker is Donna Reeve.
What we are here to do
The MWSU has been operating
in all 8 regions of the union, which covers England, Scotland, Wales
and Ireland. The MWSU has conducted research into existing migrant
worker initiatives and is now establishing how best practice can be
rolled out across the regions. The MWSU is now in the process
of providing training seminars for union representatives following research
which has identified how shop stewards, officers and organisers can
be better supported when representing and organising migrant workers.
The MWSU will be ensuring that adequate translation facilities are available. A key part of this provision entails linking up our existing Migrant Workers Legal Helpline (a free to T&G member’s legal advice line on issues like visas, rights of entry, passports, work permits, benefits and immigration) to an interpreting service provider.
The MWSU will be creating networks which can support migrant workers through building sustainable links with other migrant worker support organizations. Some of the support organizations who will be working with the MWSU are NGO’s and community networks such as the Federation of Poles, CAB, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Refugee Council, COMPAS and Oxfam. This will ensure that the MWSU is in the forefront of giving advice and support for migrant workers. The improvement of communication and information between the union and migrant worker community groups is one of the key objectives of the project.
The MWSU will be able to provide pathways for migrant workers to be better organised and have more participation within their union which will further ensure that their rights in both work and society are upheld.