POLISH MIGRANTS IN IRELAND

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1 Ireland First experience of Ireland Working for Irish employer Involvement in the trade union activities POLISH MIGRANTS IN IRELAND Becoming part of local society Sligo Joanna Ozdarska Immigrant Organisation Service Division, SIPTU

2 LABOUR MARKET 8 hours a day, 40 hours per week that s one-third of our life Migrants have greatly contributed to Ireland s success and they have equally suffered through the economic recession side-by-side with Irish workers. Highly Skilled Professionals vs Low Skill Jobs Migrant workers, including Polish people, are employed in almost every sector in Ireland

3 Total Membership 4,966 10,390 3,223 6,168 11,701 12,622 Civil Aviation Construction Energy Transport Sector 14,694 32,942 1,183 3,906 Electronics - Engineering - Industrial Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Agriculture- Ingredients- Food and Drink Ambulance Sector Allied Health Professional 195,889 4,809 9,588 6,717 12,759 Support Grades Sector Nurse and Midwife Community Education Local Authorities State Agencies 14,417 4,019 Security and Contract Cleaning Hotels & Catering 20,701 2,207 8,439 10,438 Wholesale and Retail Distribution Arts and Culture Sector General - Miscellaneous

4 Civil Aviation, 127 Wholesale and Retail Distribution, 671 Construction, 439 Hotels & Catering, 816 Electronics - Engineering - Industrial, 612 Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals, 296 Civil Aviation Construction Electronics - Engineering - Industrial Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Security and Contract Cleaning, 994 Agriculture- Ingredients- Food and Drink, 991 Agriculture- Ingredients- Food and Drink Support Grades Sector Security and Contract Cleaning Hotels & Catering Support Grades Sector, 216 Wholesale and Retail Distribution

5 AREAS OF ISSUES Wages Minimum Rate? Hours of work Zero Hour Contract Discrimination Less Favourable Treatment Up-skilling No Training System in Place Managements Tactics Fear and Stress Unequal Relationship Health and Safety Unsafe Work Places

6 Recommendations Employers should be encouraged to provide English classes for workers with low English language proficiency. Such classes could be encouraged by the provision of tax relief for employers Access to government services that support workers should be provided in various language and should be more user friendly additional financial resources should be provided for NGOs which provide assistance to migrant workers. Important documents such as grievance and disciplinary procedures and anti-racism policies should be translated into appropriate languages Employers should create opportunities for integration of the migrant workforce with local workers. State bodies which fund business start-ups or subsidise companies or provide any funding for business development should ensure that such companies commit to challenging racism and discriminatory behaviour. This should be a condition for the provision of such funding. The State should support and promote best practice in employing migrant workers, providing equal access to rights and to workplace integration To promote collective bargaining in the workplace where workers, in unity, could combine efforts in order to improve terms and conditions in the workplace through their chosen union. In the present situation, Irish law allows employer not to enter into collective bargaining.

7 SIPTU employs Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Russian and Dutch organisers SIPTU co-operation with Polish migrants SIPTU employed Polish Organisers specifically to support the Polish community in Ireland and to provide information Re: Trade Union Membership and the plans to organise Polish workers Polish media Articles and advertisement in Polish language Internet Social Media Co-operation with Polish Organisations and Embassy SIPTU website translated into Polish

8 SIPTU Strategy after 2009 and the influence on the co-operation with migrants Sector Campaigns aimed at workplaces with the most migrant employees Sector Campaigns: Contract Cleaning and Red Meat Majority of employed workers in those companies come from Central Europe and Eastern countries and non EU countries Information prepared in appropriate languages aiming specific sectors

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14 Active citizenship project Vote! You are at home, The campaign aimed Polish community to encourage them to register and vote in the local elections in Ireland as well as to enhance sense of belonging to their local communities. Polish activists were also prepared for the local elections. Those who stood as candidates, went through special seminars and courses giving them necessary knowledge and skills (workshops and seminars with Irish political figures, mentors and trainers from Ireland and Poland). Organiser: Forum Polonia and School for Leaders Association Co-financing: Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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17 SOCIAL MEDIA SIPTU's first ever Polish Facebook post together we are stronger #thankyouforyourattention