Permanent Revolution

Jake on Tue 18, November 2008 @ 22:28

Jake — 2008-11-18 22:28:38

Thanks so much for this report Dave - it was much needed! Feel free to post elsewhere as we would like to get word out about all of this. Do you have any problem with it being posting on other sites?

I was there translating and want to just point some things out.

On the supposed new Papers Please campaign: when the Unite industrial organizer at the meeting said that this was a new campaign, I think he got it wrong. Papers Please is the name of a new report by the Migrant Rights Network on the effect of immigration raids and checks on workers since the new penalties came in back in February. They had a report launch at the House of Commons. True, the report recommends some kind of regularisation but doesn't specify. There is nothing on their site about a campaign. So kick me if I'm wrong but I don't think so!

The only campaign like that is Strangers into Citizens (or StC - run by TELCO/London Citizens), who I have heard are building for a mass action like a march in May 2009, similar to the one in 2007. A few unions will once again be backing this. It is a proposal for a 4 year amnesty with conditions to be met and predicated on tighter controls in the future. This was rightly criticized at the meeting on Sunday.

BUT through the churches and a lesser extent the unions StC have mobilised migrant workers like nothing we've seen recently - 8,000 at the May 07 demo. In the U.S. the great mayday migrant marches two years ago had two wings - a conservative/Catholic one (kinda like StC) and a more principled 'papers for all' type wing which supported the widespread strike action which took place. Maybe we need to find practical ways to build the latter here, with migrant workers themselves at the centre of it. The meeting on Sunday suggested there may be some potential, and the Campaign Against Immigration Controls (CAIC) one possible vehicle to do so, although I'm not sure. The next CAIC meeting on Sunday November 30 will be evaluating last Sunday and hopefully talking a bit about StC. See CAIC site for details once up.

On the sacked NPL cleaners - in addition to the Bristol picket this Friday, there will be a central London midweek protest exactly a week after they get the decision on their appeal against dismissal, which we expect to be any day now, and expect to be negative. Watch this space.

There will also be a public meeting in Oxford on Thu Dec 4 and and action at Amey national HQ, also in Oxford, on Mon Dec 8. Again, assuming the decision is negative. Anyone wanting a speaker and/or can donate please email latin_americanworkers@hotmail.com.

Dave Esterson on Wed 19, November 2008 @ 00:57

Dave Esterson — 2008-11-19 00:57:39

Jake

I have no problem with this being posted anywhere. Where can I post it?

You are also welcome to use it and correct it where I have misunderstood about the Papers Please report.

I think the question asked by Robin in the meeting, asking the migrant workers what do they need in terms of regularisation or an amnesty is the right way to start. I think people answered it in the meeting where they did not want to see a situation where some are given papers (maybe because they have families here) while others are deemed unworthy and face deportation. The strong sense of solidarity among the workers was evident in the meeting as witnessed by the decision of the Lancaster cleaning company workers not to allow management to pick on a few workers - in contrast to the union official just trying to negotiate any deal.

The examples we have of how managements are quite deliberately calling in the home office/immigration authorities when migrant workers are organising and joining trade unions means we can pratically show to trade unionists why we must oppose all immigration controls. But at the same time I think tackling the situation of workers who are fearful of being deported if they fight for their rights means we must demand that those workers that are here (all of them) are immediately given full rights to remain living here and to have the right to work. We have an opportunity to argue that without a fight against immigration laws and for papers for these workers - that the trade unions must lead - then any attempt to organise migrant workers will constantly be undermined.

At the same time we should not accept any deal where regularisation or an amnesty is given with either the tacit or open approval of immigration controls and where the immigration authorities are able to pick and choose on a case by case basis.

I think the meeting was excellent and the organisers are to be congratulated. I would urge everyone to get in contact with the Latin American Workers Association and try to get a speaker for their workplace or union branch.

George B on Wed 19, November 2008 @ 09:26

George B — 2008-11-19 09:26:24

A very informative and useful report, Dave -

There is (needless to say) much more discussion as well as action needed. What can we learn from the experience in the States? What do we borrow and adapt, what do we reject?

Tomorrow evening (Thursday 20 November) there is a rally from 5.00 PM at Birbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1 (Tube: Euston Square, Russell Square, Warren Street) with John McDonnell in support of an offshoot of the London Living Wage campaign for cleaners at the college on an outsourced contract with OCS. This demand has been won at the neighbouring School of Oriental and African Studies, but one of the leading figures in that campaign Stalin Bermudez (a UNISON member) has been suspended. He's apparently on the platform as well.

George.

PS: high praise for the hard work and non-sectarian approach undertaken by Jake.

Jake on Wed 19, November 2008 @ 17:40

Jake — 2008-11-19 17:40:00

Thanks Dave, George for your comments.

Dave - you can post your report anywhere! We want to get it out there, it's a campaign tool!

On Papers Please - you didnt get it wrong as you just reported what you heard the Unite official say. I thnk he got it wrong. LAWAS actually got some of the interviewees for that research, and we were certainly never under the impression it was to be a separate campaign.

Will hopefully come back on some of the discussion points in your posts - be good if others chipped in too as like George says "more discussion as well as action is needed" to find the way forward. I certainly think publicizing the few good examples of workplace solidarity that we have is paramount, and the discussion can accompany that.

George B on Sun 23, November 2008 @ 11:14

George B — 2008-11-23 11:14:07

Struggles involving Latino and other migrant workers in the cleaning and catering sectors seem to be spreading across London.

On Thursday 20 November I attended a very good meeting, called by campaigners at Birkbeck College with John McDonnell and Jose Stalin Bermudez, an Ecuadorean worker at the neighbouring School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), where the college authorities agreed to implement the London Living Wage of £7.45 an hour though they rejected the call to bring cleaning and catering services back 'in house'.

Stalin is currently the chair of the college's UNISON branch, but has been suspended by the college authorities in what look like an act of victimisation for his union activities. Robinson, whom Dave mentioned in his original report of last week's meeting of the Latin American Workers' Association, was also at the meeting and spoke eloquently in Spanish.

The governing body at Birkbeck meets on Wednesday evening 03 December and there is a protest rally to demand the Living Wage outside the main building in Torrington Square, WC1 (nearest tube stations: Euston Square, Goodge Street, Russell Square and Warren Street) from 5.00 PM onwards with speakers from the SOAS campaign, Clara Osagiede, now the grades secretary for London Underground cleaners in the RMT and others from UNISON and the UCU.

George.

Jason on Wed 26, November 2008 @ 19:57

Jason — 2008-11-26 19:57:18

I guess also though Jake Dave is giving you permission to send out the report far and wide if you know of forums and lists where it could usefully be used.

Inspiring action by London workers that can and should be rpelicated elsewhere.