- Conference
- 2023 National Black Members’ Conference
- Date
- 27 September 2022
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes once again the ongoing and concerning lack of access to immigration advice and representation through UNISON legal services.
Conference notes that for members faced with criminal proceedings, our legal support kicks in straightaway, but that when a migrant worker’s employment is threatened by an immigration issue, advice is limited to a phone helpline or a monthly clinic with an external organisation.
Although this motion has been passed at conference many times, there has been no change for members who require help when their employment and immigration issues collide.
Meanwhile, Health Trusts and private care sector employers continue to recruit in the Philippines, India and Africa and all new migrant workers recruited in UNISON are almost exclusively on work permits. The exploitation of migrant on work permits is of particular concern. This means that access to advice linking immigration and employment is more crucial than ever.
Conference calls on the National Black Members Committee (NBMC) to make interventions in all relevant UNISON structures to give members access to immigration advice and representation through their union’s legal services as a matter of urgency.