TRADE UNION BRITISH-PORTUGUESE COOPERATION

Union organisation and representation is also vital – at a pan-European level. Cross-border co-operation isn’t wholly new (many unions operatein Britain and Ireland, for example) but it is becoming more common. This year, shipping officers’ union Numast began to merge with its Dutch equivalent to form Nautilus. The TUC has a long-standing agreement with the CGTP-IN in Portugal to represent Portuguese workers in Britain, renewed in April this year. Says Owen Tudor International Secretary, TUC

TUC COOPERATION WITH PORTUGUESE WORKER'S ASSOCIATION

Supporting trade union organisation in the underbelly of the British economy, if need be in innovative forms, is an essential weapon in the struggle against trafficking. The TUC's cooperation in Britain with the Portuguese Workers' Association and Federation of Poles in Britain and the bilateral agreements with their respective national trade unions have demonstrated that such approaches can yield real benefits for workers, not just in promoting their organisation in British trade unions while they are working in Britain, but also warning them in their home countries of the recruitment activities of unscrupulous labour suppliers there. Such trade union activity is resource intensive and Government support for the development of similar approaches with trade union organisations in other sending countries would be welcomed. TUC evidence to Parliament

PORTUGUESE WORKERS: STATS UK

More than 20000 Portuguese workers are employed in agriculture, cleaning and the hospitality industry

PORTUGUESE WORKERS IN LINCOLNSHIRE

- very long hours
- pay below minimum wage
- dangerous working conditions
BBC

PORTUGUESE WORKING IN SHEFFIELD

It is a well known fact that workers from many parts of Europe, particularly Portugal, and we have had many Portuguese workers over here who are exploited right to the hilt. Many of them are not prepared to tell us of the terms and conditions that have been imposed upon them until they have fallen foul of their employers over here. And then in a moment of pique they reveal everything that has been happening, the kind of earnings that they have been getting, and the fact that in terms of what they were paid to work in this Country they were seriously undermining our terms and conditions. This is the point that we have got to take on board. Sheffield Trades Union Council Delegate Meeting

THE PORTUGUESE WORKERS PROJECT - TRABALHADORES PORTUGUESES EM INGLATERRA

As a result of the protocol between the TUC - the British Trade Union Congress - and CGTP - the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers - the Portuguese Workers project is a source of immediate support for working people in the UK

TUC-CGTP PORTUGUESE WORKERS’ PROJECT

For Portuguese Speakers TUC - (Portuguese Workers’ Project) Tel: 0207 467 1256 (to leave a message) E-mail: ctp@tuc.org.uk
TUC Portuguese Workers’ Project, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B3LS