The well-known slogan “Workers of the world unite” means what it says.
It does not mean “Only workers with the correct immigration status unite.”
TRADE UNION CONFERENCE AGAINST IMMIGRATION CONTROLS
Saturday March 31st 2007, 1.00-5.30pm – light refreshments from 12 noon,
Asylum Link, St Annes Church, Overbury St, Liverpool 7
AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL! Immigration controls are an attack on all workers. When groups of workers have unequal status, when workers are precarious or when they are declared illegal; they are vulnerable to superexpliotation. Not only do the bosses get superprofits from migrant workers directly through immigration controls, they use this to discipline the entire class. Trades unions must oppose all immigration controls and fight for equal rights regardless of immigration status. Some unions such as NATFHE (now merged with UCU) and the NUJ have adopted this as their policies. Other unions have responded by considering campaigns to 'regularise migrants'.
This conference is to bring trade unionists together to organise against immigration controls both at the level of policy and perhaps more importantly practically as it impacts upon the worker place and upon our members. Themes will include:-
● Organising Migrant Workers - This isn't just about recruiting migrant workers into the union but assisting them to fight back against their bosses. Speaker from Justice for Cleaners will report on their successes against exploitative agencies in London with the help of the T&GWU and Alan Fraser of GMB (in personal capacity) on the formation of a GMB branch of migrant workers in Wessex.
● Defiance not Compliance - Workers in the caring professions are expected to act as immigration officers to their clients; reporting to the home office, cutting off benefits and services. If they refuse they could be victimised or sacked. The unions need to protect their workers and actually organise defiance. Speaker from Bolton UNISON explaining why the branch agree to support social workers in defying Section 9 of 2004 Immigration and Asylum Act and in refusing to take children of the undocumented into care as part of the deportation process.
● Deportation and Detention - What can unions do when their members are detained or threatened with deportation.
● Fighting for Right to Work and Equal Rights at work.
● What's New? There is a forest of immigration control legislation already, but new laws are coming in. What are the key developments that effect the workplace.
All this and more at this vitally important conference for all trades unionists.
No One Is Illegal is a group of trade unionists long active in anti-deportation campaigns. We have produced with trade unions the pamphlet Workers Control Not Immigration Controls.
We ask unions to sponsor (give their name to) the conference. Admission/sponsorship free,donations welcome (cheques to No One Is illegal).Workers Control Not Immigration Controls can be obtained by donation (or downloaded at www.noii.org.uk).
Initial sponsors
Trades Councils: Tameside, Oxford, Bury, Waltham Forest, Oldham, Chorley, Greater Manchester Association of trades councils.
Union branches: Bolton NUT, Bolton UNISON, Manchester Unison Community and Mental Health, TGWU 6/389, GMB London Central
No One Is Illegal 16 Wood St, Bolton, BL2 IDR Email info@noii.org.uk