World flowers - Rights for migrant workers

Submitted by Anon on 7 April, 2007 - 11:33

By a GMB organiser

The Southampton migrant workers’ branch of the GMB has won union rights at UK’s largest cut flower packer — World Flowers Ltd. This comes after a six month campaign of direct action and sustained pressure on the employer.

The flower packers at the company’s factory in Southampton are mainly Eastern European migrant workers. They have been working for the minimum wage, in very poor conditions, with no health and safety systems in place. The employer is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative — it needs to be in order to trade with the UK’s largest supermarkets. But apparently it feels no obligation to comply with the ETI’s code of conduct. Naturally the union has exploited this contradiction!

Over time the GMB managed to recruit around 100 of the 400-strong workforce. The workers joined the migrant workers’ branch and began to develop a strategy to win. Their goal, to win union recognition. GMB activists picketed the factory. Grievances were lodged on health and safety issues. The union also managed to reinstate a union member who had been sacked by the boss. Such things obviously prove the worth of the union to the workers in the factory.

The result has been agreement with the employer which includes: reasonable access to the factory for the union to talk to workers, talks on a procedure for dealing with grievances and training in health and safety. The long-term aim remains full union recognition.

Such examples of organising can act as a catalyst, not only to organise migrant workers in other workplaces, but also to change the union for the better. The current GMB leadership have said that they will stand four-square behind any campaigns and struggles GMB members are faced with. So far so good.

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