UK and European Migration, Austerity and

Working Life

Kathleen Walker Shaw

GMB European Officer

GEPO Conference

19 September 2013

Manchester

EU migration to the UK There are only 2.3mn migrants from

all other EU Member States living in the UK

Migration predominantly temporary and circular

The vast majority are employed and so contribute to our economy

Generally, EU migrants are much less likely to claim unemployment benefits than British nationals

Many of the migrants are highly if not over-qualified and work in lower skilled jobs, for which they are often underpaid

© British Influence’s EuropeWatch

UK migrants in the EU

Little talk or focus on number of UK nationals working or living abroad

1.4mn live permanently elsewhere in Europe (2.2mn if you add those part-time)

Making the British the fifth biggest expat community in the whole EU

1/2mn UK pensioners live abroad

And thousands of British students take part in study or vocational exchange programmes across the EU every year

© British Influence’s EuropeWatch

Statistics used divisively to mislead

Media say net migration increased to 176,000 by the end of 2012 But this is only in comparison to September 2012 figures (of 153,000) Net migration has actually decreased from 215,000 in 2011 And the official statistics show a “significant decline” in 2012

immigration rates as a whole (497,000) compared to 2011 (566,000)

Truth v Myths on Bulgarian and Romanian migration

Government commissioned report in April on the ‘Potential impacts on the UK of future migration from Bulgaria and Romania’ – but the conclusions didn’t match its rhetoric…

Current trends show UK is not favoured destination (Spain, Italy and Germany are most popular)Generally young, employed, without families and fairly gender-balanced Claim far fewer benefits than UK nationals and other migrant groupsNegligible impact on health services; no evidence of health tourism No disproportionate burden on social housing marketHigh rates of self-employment Many live in unsafe and overcrowded housing (exploited by landlords)Lack of awareness and understanding of their rights and needs from local service providers

Political Spin

“Next year the EU will allow 29mn

Bulgarians and Romanians to come to the UK” – UKIP 2013

campaign leaflet“Uncontrolled immigration

has put intolerable pressure on our country’s

infrastructure and has pushed down wages for low-

skilled jobs” – Immigration Minister Mark Harper MP [Con]

“Health tourism costs Britain £200mn a year” – Health

Secretary Jeremy Hunt MP [Con]

“There is somewhat of a crisis over [lifting restrictions to EU migrants]. Some people want to come here solely to claim benefits” – Secretary of State for

Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith MP [Con]

…Continued

“Mass EU immigration” has

“pushed down wages and restricted

job opportunities”, “crippled” pensions and caused “violent crime” in our cities – UKIP ‘What We Stand

For’

“A deluge of immigrants” are

“adversely affecting our labour market

and also putting an intolerable strain on our housing stock,

education and health services” – Paul

Nuttall MEP [UKIP Deputy Leader]

“The native Welsh will be a minority in their

own country within the next 15 to 20 years” – James Cole [UKIP MEP

candidate]

“Immigration [brings] new pressure to our public services and fresh strains on health, housing and education” – Grant Shapps [Con

Party Chair]

The reality on social benefits

Established provisions already exist within the EU Treaties guaranteeing equal access to social benefits for all EU citizens

Rights have been wrongly denied due to pressure of crisis, austerity and public sector cuts

UK complaint that citizens denied free treatment in some Spanish hospitals

But EU now taking UK to court over illegally denying rightful access to benefits for thousands of EU citizens living and working in Britain

Failure to get a grip of the issue

© Hope Not Hate

“It is not racist to ask people who are here

illegally to leave Britain, It is merely telling then to comply with the law”

– Mark Harper MP Immigration Minister

“You’ve got to question the government’s competence. We

need effective action on immigration not offensive

stunts. Silly gimmicks won’t solve anything” – Chris Bryant

MP Shadow Immigration Minister

Crisis and austerity in EuropeExploiting insecurities

Greece – Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, with vigilante uniformed thugs and almost certainly behind shooting of migrant workers demanding unpaid wages

Hungary – Anti-Semitic and homophobic Jobbik party

France – Leader of National Front facing trial for anti-Muslim hate-speech

Italy – Former Northern League leader calls for illegal immigrants to be shot; Anti-establishment 5 Star Movement is xenophobic, anti-trade union and forging relationships with fascist-leaning far-right

UK – British National Party is weaker than in 2009 but has been countered by rise of English Defence League; both parties see UKIP as potential ‘ally’

Youth Unemployment – A Major Threat

Nearly a quarter (23.4%) of all under-25s are unemployed across the whole EU

Figure gets higher every month in Greece (62.9%) and Spain (56.1%) where now over half of all young people cannot find a job

Lowest rates remain in Germany (7.7%) and Austria (9.2%) – thanks to their youth guarantee scheme and high investment

GMB’s Position GMB welcomes migrant workers but insists they

must be paid the rate for the job like UK workers To fail to do this is exploitation and discrimination With each wave of migration to the UK, GMB has

welcomed migrant workers into the Union and supported them in: Stopping exploitation by rogue employers

undermining collectively agreed conditions, and ensuring their employment and social rights

Giving strength through organising Informing migrant workers on their rights,

protections and health and safety, in native languages

GMB Migrant Worker Organisation

GMB actively organises migrant workers, including by establishing dedicated branches

Has recruited Polish, Lithuanian and other EU officers to support its Organisation

Produces, and translates, materials on rights at work and workplace organising tools

GMB has pushed for stronger enforcement of EU Posted Workers rights

Trade unions and civil society must be voice of reason

Working together to support and integrate EU migrants into our communities

Demanding political integrity in the system and balanced debates

Encouraging members to trust their own judgments and principles and question what we hear from the media and politicians

We must not underestimate the power of our vote and the need to use it carefully

Topics for Group Discussions

Immigration is currently a very sensitive issue in the UK and EU. What 3 key aims and policy objectives would you campaign for to create a more balanced and effective policy direction?

Are there more constructive best practice examples of dealing with the immigration debate in your country?

What do you think needs to be done to tackle the unacceptably high youth unemployment across the EU?

How do you think trade unions and community groups can work more closely together in tackling these challenges?