This resolution, submitted by thee Regional Council Executive, was passed at the November 2009 meeting of the Regional Council.

In the light of resolutions passed at AGMs to support our members in the cleaning grades and oppose exploitation of migrant workers and in recognition of the facts that:

1. Most of our cleaning members are from ethnic minorities.
2. The various cleaning and other companies have used immigration rules to systematically exploit those who have organised in trade unions.

Following the resolution passed by our Regional Council in March, the union's General Grades Committee (part of the national executive) made the following decision on June 1st. The latest report is that "work is in progress".

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That we note the resolution from the LT Regional Council and the continuing sackings of our cleaner members and the need to build up our membership in this important grade.

We also take into consideration the recent meeting with our Parliamentary Group, which is placed on file.

The General Secretary is therefore instructed:

This is the section of the General Secretary's report to RMT's 2009 AGM concerning the the union's work on black and ethnic minority workers' issues ...

BLACK & ETHNIC SURVEY

WEA Offices, 70 Clifton Street, EC2A 4HB (5 mins walk from Old Street station)

Speaker: Elane Heffernan, Immigration Rights Campaigner

The TUC/BERR Vulnerable Workers Project and the Federation of Poles in Great Britain Present:

‘A Better Deal for Polish Workers’

POSK Centre, 238-246 King Street, London W6 0RF

All trade unions, and unionlearn branches, in the Southern and Eastern Region of the TUC as well as statutory and voluntary sector providers have been invited to attend and run a stall.

RMT has produced a booklet providing a guide for reps on new legislation concerning immigration checks at work. The booklet is attached as a PDF and the text is reproduced below ...

NATIONAL UNION OF RAIL, MARITIME AND TRANSPORT WORKERS
IMMIGRATION CHECKS AT WORK: A reps guide

Dear Colleague,

Demonstrate in solidarity with Tube cleaners at Mayor's Question Time on Wednesday 15 October, City Hall, 10-11am

Meet outside City Hall (by the river between London Bridge and Tower Bridge).

The Mayor is the chair of Transport for London. At Mayor's Questions in July, he smugly promised that Metronet cleaners would receive a living wage by August.

Metronet contractors Initial and ICS are still either not paying the London Living Wage, or only paying it in part.

The protest will also highlight the unjust use of immigration law during the dispute.