Organising migrants as workers or as migrant workers? Intersectionality, trade unions and precarious work

Unpacking the Category of Migrant Workers in Trade Union Research: A Multi-Level Approach to Migrant Intersectionalities

“…In other words, we should not treat migrants as a homogenous group, either by assuming that they are all vulnerable, unable to have a voice, hyperexploited and low paid, or that they can be unionized under the same umbrella group (Alberti et al, 2013;Heyes, 2009). We are interested in revealing "the range of diversity and difference within the group" (McCall, 2015(McCall, : 1782, while maintaining a critical stance towards the boundaries of social categories as historical formations.…”

“…What dimension counts more depends on the meso (e.g., the organisation's rules) and macro context (e.g., the economic climate), as well as the subjective experiences of migration of this woman. We need to therefore contextualize intersectional identities and experiences of inequality, by focusing on a limited set of inequalities that are salient at a certain time and place (see for instance Alberti et al, 2013;Però, 2014).…”

Stepping up to strike: a union mobilization case study of Polish migrant workers in the Netherlands

“…Even though mobilising efforts cannot be directly transposed to other institutional contexts, as they are always tailored to specific characteristics of a group of workers, the national and sectoral context (Keune 2013;Gumbrell-McCormick 2011;Krings 2009), this case has relevance as an example of a migrant mobilisation within fragmented workplaces. As such, this case study provides insights into the factors that may facilitate and limit the mobilisation process and contributes to the extension of the theoretical and empirical literature (Snow and Trom 2002) on organising migrants (Milkman 2006;Alberti et al 2013) and contingent workers (Jenkins 2013;Simms and Dean 2014). More specifically, it shows the importance of key actors in building up solidarities within a group and between contractually different groups of workers.…”

“…Examples of the latter are the establishment of special union branches for migrant or contingent workers (Greer et al 2013;James and Karmowska 2012;Simms and Dean 2014). Studies show that by adjusting organising efforts to match the interests and life worlds of non-organised contingent and/or migrant workers, unions are more effective in engaging them in union activities (Jenkins 2013;Alberti et al 2013;Milkman 2006). In the case discussed here, the union first approached the Polish TWA workers in a worker-centred and flexible manner, to engage with their interests and guide them into collective action.…”

“…Trade unions may use social regulation to protect migrants from unrestrained market competition . Many unions have made efforts to include migrants and other precarious workers as members to reduce the marginalisation of these workers and to protect their existing members' interests (see Adler et al 2014;Holgate 2005;Holgate 2011;Connolly et al 2011;Fitzgerald and Hardy 2010;Eldring et al 2012;Alberti et al 2013;Vandaele and Leschke 2010;Keune 2013;Bernaciak et al 2014;Hardy et al 2012;Wills 2009;Milkman 2000Milkman , 2006. Despite these efforts, migrants remain underrepresented in trade union membership, as they tend to work more often in sectors or workplaces where trade union presence is weak or non-existent (Gorodzeisky and Richards 2013).…”