Unions and churches combine to defend Polish migrants
-26/09/06
The Transport and Gene
Unions and churches combine to defend Polish migrants
-26/09/06
The Transport and General Workers’ Union in Scotland has joined forces with the Catholic Church to raise concerns over the abuse of Polish workers’ rights, writes Dan Belgin for Independent Catholic News.
The union recognises that many Poles have to endure long working hours, pay infringements and no rights to paid holidays and sick pay. Some unscrupulous landlords are also exploiting Polish tenants in overcrowded, substandard accommodation and illegal rentals.
Home Office figures show that 32,135 migrant workers have registered in Scotland, most of whom are Poles.
T&G Scotland has won a number of cases on behalf of Polish workers who were in dispute with their employers or had their legal rights violated.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow says that it has seen a major influx of Polish worshippers in recent months, and Masses in Polish are packed every weekend.
The Church is concerned that migrant workers also face a number of challenges outside the workplace including language, opening bank accounts, religious matters and issues surrounding accommodation.
The union is urging Polish workers to join up to ensure that their legal rights as workers are not violated, while the Church is encouraging new arrivals to register with their local parish.
T&G regional secretary Mike Brider said: “T&G Scotland warmly welcomes the role and contribution which migrant workers are making to our economy and communities.
“However, we have become increasingly concerned about the violation of migrant workers’ rights within and outwith the workplace,” he added
A public meeting, in Polish, will be held at Transport House, on 8 October 2006, in order to bring people together and assess the situation.
Archbishop Mario Conti, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow, declared: “I am delighted to work with the union to offer support and solidarity to the newly arrived Poles and their families. Their contribution, economically, culturally and spiritually to Scotland will be greatly enriching, and we must do all we can to ensure they are not ill-treated or exploited.”
Ekklesia adds: Meanwhile, Sister Moira McDowall reports that a Polish Catholic church in Bristol has also offered warm welcome to migrants.
Churches across Britain and Ireland have been especially critical of the governmentís desire to clamp down on migrant workers from other parts of Europe. They point out that the phenomenon is a changing rather than a permanent one ñ contrary to reports in the media.
Issues of basic human need and justice, as well as biblical hospitality, are also raised by migration.
In Switzerland, Christians are joining with human rights groups and refugee campaigners to seek to reverse a new migrant-unfriendly law.
[Also on Ekklesia: Migration is a matter of justice – Jonathan Bartley challenges our love affair with immigration controls; Are Immigration controls moral? – Vaughan Jones questions wheter they are; Global churches focus on peace theology and migration; Bishop urges action from government over care for migrant workers; European and US churches offer fresh support to immigrants; Cardinal suggests UK amnesty for illegal immigrants; New international initiative on migrant’s rights; Methodist church and trade unions team up against exploitation; Global migration needs pluralism not religious sectarianism; Cardinal deplores ëextreme and shameful povertyí in Britain; French resistance to unjust asylum laws; Churches express solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers Churches in the US pledge solidarity with migrants; Churches express solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers; Church group expresses concern over global recruitment of migrant workers; Methodists add warning over election treatment of asylum issue; Howardís ‘false’ anti-immigrant claims defy UN and churches; Photo row highlights discrepancy between churches and politicians; Catholic bishops in US say they will break immigration law; Churches call for asylum justice as UK loses on Zimbabwe asylum case; Churches told how to offer protection to asylum seekers]
Unions and churches combine to defend Polish migrants
-26/09/06
The Transport and General Workers’ Union in Scotland has joined forces with the Catholic Church to raise concerns over the abuse of Polish workers’ rights, writes Dan Belgin for Independent Catholic News.
The union recognises that many Poles have to endure long working hours, pay infringements and no rights to paid holidays and sick pay. Some unscrupulous landlords are also exploiting Polish tenants in overcrowded, substandard accommodation and illegal rentals.
Home Office figures show that 32,135 migrant workers have registered in Scotland, most of whom are Poles.
T&G Scotland has won a number of cases on behalf of Polish workers who were in dispute with their employers or had their legal rights violated.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow says that it has seen a major influx of Polish worshippers in recent months, and Masses in Polish are packed every weekend.
The Church is concerned that migrant workers also face a number of challenges outside the workplace including language, opening bank accounts, religious matters and issues surrounding accommodation.
The union is urging Polish workers to join up to ensure that their legal rights as workers are not violated, while the Church is encouraging new arrivals to register with their local parish.
T&G regional secretary Mike Brider said: “T&G Scotland warmly welcomes the role and contribution which migrant workers are making to our economy and communities.
“However, we have become increasingly concerned about the violation of migrant workers’ rights within and outwith the workplace,” he added
A public meeting, in Polish, will be held at Transport House, on 8 October 2006, in order to bring people together and assess the situation.
Archbishop Mario Conti, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow, declared: “I am delighted to work with the union to offer support and solidarity to the newly arrived Poles and their families. Their contribution, economically, culturally and spiritually to Scotland will be greatly enriching, and we must do all we can to ensure they are not ill-treated or exploited.”
Ekklesia adds: Meanwhile, Sister Moira McDowall reports that a Polish Catholic church in Bristol has also offered warm welcome to migrants.
Churches across Britain and Ireland have been especially critical of the governmentís desire to clamp down on migrant workers from other parts of Europe. They point out that the phenomenon is a changing rather than a permanent one ñ contrary to reports in the media.
Issues of basic human need and justice, as well as biblical hospitality, are also raised by migration.
In Switzerland, Christians are joining with human rights groups and refugee campaigners to seek to reverse a new migrant-unfriendly law.
[Also on Ekklesia: Migration is a matter of justice – Jonathan Bartley challenges our love affair with immigration controls; Are Immigration controls moral? – Vaughan Jones questions wheter they are; Global churches focus on peace theology and migration; Bishop urges action from government over care for migrant workers; European and US churches offer fresh support to immigrants; Cardinal suggests UK amnesty for illegal immigrants; New international initiative on migrant’s rights; Methodist church and trade unions team up against exploitation; Global migration needs pluralism not religious sectarianism; Cardinal deplores ëextreme and shameful povertyí in Britain; French resistance to unjust asylum laws; Churches express solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers Churches in the US pledge solidarity with migrants; Churches express solidarity with migrants and asylum seekers; Church group expresses concern over global recruitment of migrant workers; Methodists add warning over election treatment of asylum issue; Howardís ‘false’ anti-immigrant claims defy UN and churches; Photo row highlights discrepancy between churches and politicians; Catholic bishops in US say they will break immigration law; Churches call for asylum justice as UK loses on Zimbabwe asylum case; Churches told how to offer protection to asylum seekers]