3. Building trust and understanding with migrant workers
Building community
Community networks outside of work – from churches and mosques to WhatsApp groups and cultural associations – can be vital to migrant workers. These networks can offer emotional support, information, and advocacy. Union staff and reps should see these groups not as competitors, but as partners in organising.
Geoff( name changed), an NHS nurse working in Newry, Northern Ireland, demonstrated this powerfully. Through regular engagement with Keralan community networks in his local area – including language groups and cultural organisations – he created a trusted environment where migrant workers felt safe to speak and ask questions. By offering union support within these existing spaces, workers were more likely to listen, engage, and begin to organise collectively.
Where possible, reps and organisers should consider running meetings or dropins not only at workplaces but in safe, familiar community spaces. These off-site meetings can help reach those who may never attend a formal union meeting. More detailed guidance on organising meetings in these contexts is covered in Chapter 12.
“ They won’ t believe until we show them we can make change.” – UNISON rep
Building migrant solidarity
Community networks and shared spaces are also a good way of building solidarity between workers from different countries who are facing the same issues. Cultural and national differences can sometimes be exploited in workplaces by staff from one country being in supervisory or managerial roles with responsibility for staff from other countries, or by dividing groups into different shifts and / or roles. Union networks and events can be a way of emphasising the commonalities of experiences and forging relationships between all workers regardless of nationality.
LRD • Supporting migrant workers 21