Migration and trade unions – migrant labour struggles and challenges for organising

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3 – 4 – 5 March, 14:00 CET

Join leading trade unionists, scholars and activists and participate in an exciting discussion organised by the Global Labour University. 

While the free movement of goods and capital has been widely advocated by mainstream economists and politicians as a way to promote progress, there has been much less enthusiasm about allowing the free movement of people with full respect for their rights as workers. This has contributed to making migrant workers vulnerable. Trade unions have played a key part in protecting these workers, even in the face of deliberate attempts by capital to divide and rule. Unions have however not been immune to anti-migrant sentiments, have shown at times reluctance to organise migrant workers, or struggled with finding the most effective organising strategy.

The protection of migrant workers by trade unions are all the more important given globalisation trends under neoliberalism as well as the anti-immigrant policies of right-wing populists. It is important to create the space for an open engagement on the complex challenges facing migrants, trade unions and activists, as well as on the positive examples of responses to changing migration patterns, whether in the area of innovative forms of organising; or the development of transnational trade union networks.

The workshop will discuss the challenges posed by changing migration patterns, as well as explore union and civil society responses to these challenges. We hope to tease out lessons that can be shared broadly and identify areas of cooperation in order to support trade unions in representing migrant workers’ interests as part of strategies to build stronger and more inclusive organisations.

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