‘An indictment of the trade union movement’: Why no one is organising seasonal workers – TBIJ

Analysis of Union Efforts for Migrant Agricultural Workers in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Campaign Outcomes and Alignment with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

A campaign by the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU), and its successor Unite, successfully advanced the principles of SDG 8 by securing decent work for migrant farm workers. The union’s actions directly supported the protection of labour rights and the promotion of a safe and secure working environment as outlined in SDG Target 8.8.

• The union recruited workers and submitted 200 individual grievances.
• It organised protests, applied pressure on supermarkets, and mounted a press campaign.
• The successful outcome was a collective bargaining agreement to negotiate on pay and conditions.
• Elected union representatives were granted time off for union activities, strengthening institutional frameworks for worker representation.

Challenges to Sustained Support and Implications for SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Despite the campaign’s success in reducing immediate inequalities for a specific group of workers, significant structural challenges prevented the union from sustaining these efforts. This highlights the difficulty in achieving long-term progress on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) for transient and precarious workforces.

1. Financial Unsustainability: According to former TGWU executive council member Ivan Monckton, the campaign cost the union “thousands and thousands of pounds,” representing a significant financial outlay.
2. Lack of Membership Retention: The seasonal nature of the work meant that at the end of the season, the entire recruited membership base was lost as workers returned to their home countries. Previous efforts to recruit workers through foreign unions before their arrival in the UK had also proven unsuccessful.

Perspectives on Union Responsibility and Strategic Commitments to Labour Rights

The experience has prompted an internal debate on the strategic allocation of resources versus the fundamental mission to protect all workers, a core tenet of both SDG 8 and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• Pragmatic Assessment: Steve Leniec, chair of the agriculture subsector at Unite, acknowledged that unions weigh the cost of a campaign against its likely outcome and the potential for member retention before committing resources.
• Moral Imperative: Leniec also asserted that unions have a moral duty to “defend” seasonal workers. He argued that improving conditions for this vulnerable group ultimately helps protect labour standards for all workers in the country, thereby contributing to the universal achievement of decent work.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses issues related to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

     This is the most central SDG to the article. The text focuses on the working conditions, pay, and rights of migrant farm workers. The union’s actions, such as organizing protests, submitting grievances, and negotiating a “collective bargaining agreement to negotiate on pay and conditions,” are direct efforts to achieve decent work for this group of laborers.

   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

     The article touches upon the vulnerabilities of migrant workers, who are often in a precarious position compared to other workers. The union’s campaign to “defend” seasonal workers and improve their conditions is an action aimed at reducing the inequalities of outcome and opportunity they face in the workplace.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     This SDG is relevant through the role of the union (TGWU/Unite) as an institution. The union acts as a vehicle for justice and representation for the workers. By submitting “200 individual grievances” and establishing a formal negotiation process, the union works to create a stronger, more just system for resolving labor disputes and ensuring workers’ voices are heard.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers… and those in precarious employment.

     The entire narrative revolves around this target. The article describes a union campaign specifically for “migrant farm workers” in seasonal, precarious employment. The successful outcome—a collective bargaining agreement on pay and conditions and representation for union members—is a direct effort to protect their labor rights and improve their working environment.

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.

     The union’s negotiation for better “pay and conditions” directly aligns with the goal of achieving decent work. The campaign sought to ensure that the value of the farm workers’ labor was recognized with fair compensation and working conditions.

   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

     The article provides a clear example of achieving this target in a workplace context. The farm’s agreement to “gave elected union representatives time off for union work” establishes a formal, representative mechanism for workers to participate in decisions that affect their pay and conditions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can measure progress:

   • Existence of Collective Bargaining Agreements

     The key outcome of the union’s campaign was that the “farm agreed to sign a collective bargaining agreement.” The number and coverage of such agreements are direct indicators of progress towards protecting labor rights (Target 8.8).

   • Number of Official Labor Grievances Filed

     The article explicitly states that the union “submitted 200 individual grievances.” This figure serves as an indicator of workers’ access to justice mechanisms to address their concerns, which relates to Target 16.3 (Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all).

   • Formal Recognition of Worker Representation

     The fact that the farm “gave elected union representatives time off for union work” is a qualitative indicator. It demonstrates the existence of a participatory and representative structure for decision-making (Target 16.7), showing that workers’ representation is formally acknowledged by the employer.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Mentioned or Implied in the Article)
   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers.	The signing of a “collective bargaining agreement to negotiate on pay and conditions.”
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all.	The submission of “200 individual grievances” by the union on behalf of workers.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.	The farm giving “elected union representatives time off for union work.”

Source: thebureauinvestigates.com